Talking New Energy: Can batteries solve Britain's summer power crunch?

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In this episode, we speak to Simon Ellis, Head of Short-Term Trading at EDF UK, about how one of Great Britain's largest energy portfolios is adapting to a rapidly changing electricity market. With more than 2GW of battery storage under management, Simon shares how EDF is using automation, machine learning and advanced trading strategies to optimise flexibility assets, respond to increasingly volatile market conditions, and help reduce costs for consumers. Together, we explore how recent heatwave-driven price spikes, evolving market rules and grid reforms are changing the way power is traded and balanced across Great Britain. 

We discuss:

• How batteries, flexibility and interconnectors are helping the grid respond to increasingly common summer price spikes and renewable variability.
• How AI, machine learning and automation are transforming the optimisation of both grid-scale and behind-the-meter flexibility assets.
• Why reforms to balancing markets, battery trading rules and network planning will be critical to supporting investment and delivering a more efficient electricity system.

What’s one thing you would like listeners to take away from this?

• The transition to a more renewable power system isn't just about building more wind and solar. It also depends on smarter markets, better forecasting, greater flexibility and the right market reforms to ensure technologies like batteries can deliver maximum value for both the grid and consumers.