Orion New Zealand

ROI Resi - Flex

The transition towards net-zero emissions is leading to an increasing reliance on electricity. Recent reports, such as "The Future is Electric" by The Boston Consulting Group, highlight the importance of more demand-side flexibility to support the integration of intermittent renewable generation and to improve the utilisation of electricity networks. Demand-side flexibility can be provided by Consumer Energy Resources (CER) such as EV charging, electric hot water heating, or residential batteries. In response to these challenges, Orion and Wellington Electricity partnered to deliver the Resi-Flex project, which aims to incentivise flexibility from residential consumers by exploring commercial mechanisms in collaboration with flexibility stakeholders.
In the first phase of the project, Orion and Wellington Electricity sought to understand the requirements of all users across the value chain for flexibility – from consumers to flexibility stakeholders, to distribution network companies – the insights of which were shared in the publication of Resi-Flex’s first Public Report in July 2023.
Moving to the next stage in the project, we are looking to co-design trials with residential consumers in partnership with flexibility stakeholders (e.g. retailers, flexibility suppliers, aggregators, end-consumer integrators, or a mix of actors partnering together). Through the trials, we aim to test a range of commercial mechanisms and consumer offerings that will incentivise greater use of flexibility resources in the future and help stimulate the flexibility market.
Orion and Wellington Electricity are now calling for Expressions of Interest (EOI) from Flexibility Stakeholders (Respondents) who are interested in partnering with us in the Trial phase of the Resi-Flex project. The purpose of the EOI is to start engaging with Respondents to understand their flexibility capability as it relates to the scope of the Trial. We intend to work with the selected partner/s to co-design and develop trial requirements, including commercial mechanisms and associated customer offerings, to trial and evaluate. Through the trial phase, Orion, Wellington Electricity, and the Resi-flex Trial partners will gain insights into consumer responses to various customer offerings and the associated energy system benefits in a controlled environment.
We believe these Trials will exhibit the cross-sector, consumer focus, and share information that is needed to transform New Zealand’s energy system.

Department/Business Unit: Procurement