Finalists for first ever Flex Awards revealed

The shortlist for Utility Week’s inaugural Flex Awards has been unveiled, ahead of the big reveal at Utility Week Live on 21 May.

The awards were launched earlier this year with the aim of celebrating the individuals, teams and organisations pioneering energy flexibility.

After a rigorous judging process the entries have been whittled down across six categories. The winners in each will be announced at a ceremony closing the first day of Utility Week Live in Birmingham’s NEC on 21 May. Register here for your chance to attend.

Utility Week editor, and chair of the judges, James Wallin, said: “Our judges had a really difficult job in distilling some really compelling entries down into this shortlist. This was both because of the quality of the submissions but also because of the diversity of actors in energy flexibility. Our shortlist displays that breadth of talent and highlights the true pioneers in this emerging market.”

See the full list of finalists below and sign up to be the first to see the winners revealed at Utility Week Live.

Best domestic flexibility proposition

• Dimplex and Centrica – The British Gas Dimplex Quantum tariff
• National Grid Electricity Distribution – EQUINOX
• National Grid ESO – Demand Flexibility Service
• Octopus Energy – Saving Sessions
• SMS – ‘Demand Flexibility-as-a-Service’
• UK Power Networks – Socially Green
• Utilita Energy – Taking everyone on the net zero journey

Best innovation in energy flexibility

• ESO and partners – CrowdFlex
• ev.energy – EV Flex – Aggregated Asset Metering functionality
• Kaluza – Charge Anytime
• National Grid ESO – Enduring Auction Capability
• Octopus Energy and UK Power Networks – Pioneering a truly flexible and supergreen energy solution
• Piclo & ESO – Local Constraint Market
• tepeo – Zero Emission Boiler

Best use of energy flexibility data

• Kraken – Intelligent Octopus/SmartFlex
• SSEN Distribution – Smart Metering Data
• UK Power Networks DSO – Advanced Curtailment Tool
• Utilita Energy – Power Payback and the Pancakeulator
• WSP, ENWL, NPg – Regional variation in the uptake of flexibility services

Energy network of the year

• National Grid Electricity Distribution
• Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN)
• UK Power Networks

Flexibility pioneer of the year

• Gemserv and Traxis Group- Local Energy Markets Alliance
• Nicola Waters – Electron
• Sotiris Georgiopoulos – UK Power Networks

Flexibility service provider of the year

• OakTree Power
• EV Flex by ev.energy
• EDF – Wholesale Market Services
• Octopus Energy

The Flex Awards are the flagship for a wider programme of content supporting the emerging energy flexibility market. Flexibility is a major focus across both days of Utility Week Live, with a dedicated stage, content programme and facilitated networking opportunities. In addition, Utility Week has launched a monthly newsletter covering the energy flexibility market, and a dedicated networking group.