Chair: James Wallin, editor, Utility Week 

11:20 Leveraging local flexible energy markets to release capacity in the grid and enable decarbonisation 

• Prioritising diversity services for load managed areas 
• Delivering community energy resources 
• Unlocking the grid to enable Local Area Energy Plans   

Catherine Winning, flexibility markets manager, SSEN 

Melanie Bryce, head of network and market development, SSEN 

11:35 Adapting mind set, culture and engagement to transition to a DSO  

• Demonstrating the importance of engaging with local authorities and stakeholders  
• Explaining the primary shifts in operational management   
• Balancing different priorities to pursue an aligned strategy 

Maurice Lynch, head of system flexibility, Northern Powergrid  

11:50 Integrating storage to support the shift to green generation 

• Outlining storage solutions in the grid and batteries behind the customer meter 
• Exploring hydrogen vs battery economics for wind and solar  

12:05 Overcoming the UK’s connections crisis 

• Sharing best practice and lessons learned from international case studies on connections  

Alexis Storey, senior manager, Baringa  

12:20 Question and answer session