A new academic-industry project with Professor Miguel Anjos, Dr Zeynep Suvak, Dr Burak Buke, and ENODA has secured EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) funding. The feasibility project will explore how demand-side flexibility (DSF) could play a bigger role in supporting a stable, low-carbon electricity grid.DSF refers to the ability of energy assets, such as electric vehicle chargers and heat pumps, to adjust when they use electricity. This can reduce the strain on the UK’s energy system by shifting consumption to times when the grid is less congested.As the UK system moves toward renewable energy, network operators face growing challenges in maintaining system stability. ENODA develops innovative solutions to help operators manage these pressures, particularly as more home batteries (like those connected to solar panels and electric vehicle chargers) take part in grid services. Dr Zeynep Suvak, the School’s Operations Research Consultant, says, "Increasing participation in demand-side flexibility is vital for delivering grid services in a cost-efficient manner for system operators, flexibility providers, and consumers.”The newly funded project will conduct a targeted optimisation study where researchers will assess how DSF assets perform under different capacity payment arrangements, compare their value against batteries across multiple deployment scenarios, and determine the most effective flexibility procurement strategies for system operators. ENODA's Anna Bazley attended an Academic Industry Meeting Day (AIMday) with Zeynep Suvak and Burak Buke. Zeynep continues, “This project will assess how informed and optimized decision-making can unlock the potential of underutilised flexible capacity. It also marks the beginning of the University of Edinburgh’s research collaboration with ENODA, which we hope to strengthen through further impactful projects in the future."Anna Bazley, Head of Government and Regulatory Affairs for ENODA, says, “Unlocking flexibility is one of the most cost-effective ways to relieve pressure on the grid while supporting the energy transition. By combining ENODA’s industry expertise with leading academic research, this project will help quantify how flexibility can complement and outperform traditional resources. The results will be useful for both system operators and flexibility providers.”Learn more:Who we are | ENODA Publication date 07 Jan, 2026
