What are flexibility markets in Great Britain?

Flexibility markets enable assets such as battery storage, solar generation and other distributed energy resources to adjust how and when they generate or consume electricity in response to the needs of the electricity system. As participation across different markets grows, effective coordination will become increasingly important to ensure flexibility can be used efficiently.

Who will be involved in developing the Market Coordination Roadmap?

The project will involve engagement with stakeholders from across the electricity value chain. This includes organisations involved in operating flexibility markets, such as NESO and Distribution System Operators, as well as flexibility providers and participants in wholesale markets. Their perspectives will help inform the assessment of potential approaches to market coordination.

When will the Market Coordination Roadmap be implemented?

The project is developing a phased roadmap to inform how flexibility market coordination could evolve from 2028 onwards. The programme will assess potential coordination mechanisms, develop shortlisted options in greater detail and identify implementation pathways to support future decision-making.

What could better flexibility market coordination mean for consumers?

Better coordination could help reduce operational conflicts, improve the use of flexible assets and increase overall market efficiency. Ultimately, a better coordinated electricity system has the potential to lower costs for consumers while supporting a more flexible and resilient energy system.

Market Coordination Roadmap for Great Britain

Energy transition Networks System flexibility Net zero

LCP Delta has been appointed by Elexon, supported by Smart Grid Consultancy, to help develop a practical roadmap for coordinating flexibility markets across Great Britain. This work forms part of Elexon's Market Facilitator role and will help establish how flexibility markets should evolve from 2028 onwards to unlock greater value for consumers and support a more efficient electricity system.

Wall mounted electric home charger, wallbox EV charging station with cable connected to black car. Eco alternative energy charging for modern electric vehicles at house, evening.

Chris Warwick Consultant - Networks

Contact Chris

Robin Kaloustian Senior Consultant - Networks

Contact Robin

Emma Carr Senior Consultant - Networks

Tom Veli Partner and Head of Networks

Contact Tom

30 October 2026

Why this project matters

Great Britain's electricity system is becoming increasingly complex as more distributed energy resources, such as battery storage and solar generation, participate across multiple flexibility markets. These markets have largely evolved independently, creating the risk of inefficiencies, operational conflicts and barriers to unlocking the full value of flexibility.

Greater coordination between the National Energy System Operator (NESO), Distribution System Operators (DSOs), flexibility providers and wholesale markets will be essential as the energy transition accelerates. Better coordination can help:

Reduce operational conflicts
Improve asset utilisation
Increase market efficiency
Lower costs for consumers
Create clearer market arrangements for flexibility providers
Enable a more flexible and resilient electricity system

This project will assess the approaches that could improve market coordination and develop a phased implementation roadmap for future delivery.

Scroll down to learn more about the project

Elexon's overview of flexibility market coordination today

Read the full review in the Phase 1 Report

About the project

The programme will be delivered in two major phases:

Option development and assessment

During Phase 2, the project team will:

Review approaches to coordination from prior work, international markets, and on-going GB programmes
Engage stakeholders across the electricity value chain
Develop and evaluate potential coordination mechanisms
Shortlist preferred approaches
Publish an initial set of findings and recommendations

Detailed assessment and roadmap development

Phase 3 will:

Develop shortlisted options in greater detail
Undertake impact assessments
Conduct cost-benefit analysis
Develop implementation pathways
Produce a detailed Market Coordination Roadmap
Support future decision making on the preferred coordination approach

Events and webinars

Throughout the programme the project partners will host and support a series of engagement activities and public webinars.

Assessment framework workshop: roadmap for market coordination

12 November 2026 | 10:30 am - 12:30 pm

Join Elexon's online workshop to help shape how potential models for flexibility market coordination are assessed.

Participants will explore what good coordination should deliver, identify the most important assessment criteria, and discuss how trade-offs between competing objectives should be treated.

The outputs will form the basis our approach to assessing options for flexibility market coordination beyond 2028.

Full details & how to register

Latest updates

This Roadmap looks at coordination strategically and invites stakeholders to help inform the best way forward for market coordination in the rest of the project.

Phase 1 report: Overview of flexibility market coordination

Read the report

Your questions answered

: Flexibility markets enable assets such as battery storage, solar generation and other distributed energy resources to adjust how and when they generate or consume electricity in response to the needs of the electricity system. As participation across different markets grows, effective coordination will become increasingly important to ensure flexibility can be used efficiently.

: The project will involve engagement with stakeholders from across the electricity value chain. This includes organisations involved in operating flexibility markets, such as NESO and Distribution System Operators, as well as flexibility providers and participants in wholesale markets. Their perspectives will help inform the assessment of potential approaches to market coordination.

: The project is developing a phased roadmap to inform how flexibility market coordination could evolve from 2028 onwards. The programme will assess potential coordination mechanisms, develop shortlisted options in greater detail and identify implementation pathways to support future decision-making.

: Better coordination could help reduce operational conflicts, improve the use of flexible assets and increase overall market efficiency. Ultimately, a better coordinated electricity system has the potential to lower costs for consumers while supporting a more flexible and resilient energy system.