Quick answer
No. Since P415, an eligible GB commercial battery can use a qualified trading provider without the client changing electricity supplier. The normal supply contract stays in place while the trading service is handled separately. You still need to check the meter, battery controls, site limits and trading setup before promising income.
Before P415 came in on 7 November 2024, commercial clients usually needed their electricity supplier to provide access to wholesale trading. Few suppliers offered the service, leading some companies to switch.
After the introduction of P415, commercial clients can now appoint qualified trading providers (sometimes known as aggregators or Virtual Trading Parties) to handle battery trading for them, while staying with their existing electricity suppliers.
Your client still receives a normal electricity bill from its existing supplier. If the site exports electricity, it may also receive an export payment under its export agreement.
GridTrade is separate from the client’s electricity supply contract. GridVolt uses its software to manage eligible battery trading through its market arrangements, then pays the client the GridTrade income shown on their statement.
How to explain the two battery trading routes to the client
GridVolt uses clients’ batteries to create trading income in two main ways:
- Export route: The battery discharges its stored electricity and exports it to the grid. A valid export MPAN, export agreement and DNO limit are needed for this.
- Metered-change route: GridVolt changes when the battery charges or discharges, so the site imports from, or exports to, the grid differently from the baseline. The client is paid for the eligible meter change.
In the case of the metered-change route, the baseline is the “what would have happened anyway” figure.
Under P415, GridVolt uses a forecast of what the site’s half-hourly grid meter would have recorded for import or export without the trading instruction. GridVolt then compares that forecast with what the meter actually records after the instruction.
The difference is the traded amount, as long as GridVolt can show that the change came from the trading instruction, not normal site demand or solar output.
GridVolt’s control software checks market prices, site load, battery state of charge, import limits and export limits, then sends the battery an instruction to:
- Stop or delay a planned charge when a trading instruction pays the site to lower demand, so the site imports less electricity than the baseline expected
- Charge up more when prices are low or negative, as long as the site has spare import capacity and the battery state of charge leaves room to charge
- Discharge into/power the building when prices are high, so the client buys less electricity from the grid
- Discharge for export when the price is high enough, as long as the export MPAN, export agreement and DNO limit allow the site to export
Whenever the battery follows any of these instructions, it doesn’t affect the operation of the site. It doesn’t mean the client has to turn machines off or reduce normal site use.
The battery still has to stay inside the agreed site rules, including import limits, export limits and backup reserve. GridVolt agrees those rules with the client before GridVolt starts trading the battery, with the installer confirming the battery, inverter, meter and site limits where needed.
What to collect from the client to check whether the battery can earn trading income
When visiting the client, don’t promise they can take part in trading until you know the site qualifies. To work that out, please send us the following information:
- Confirmation of a half-hourly settled grid meter with profile class 00: The site needs this type of meter, not just a monthly bill or annual consumption figure.
- Import MPAN: Get the import MPAN from the electricity bill.
- Half-hourly data access: Check whether the client can give access to the half-hourly meter data.
- Recent bills: Ask for recent electricity bills so GridVolt can check the tariff, standing charges, unit rates and meter details.
- Export MPAN: If the site exports electricity, ask whether it has a separate export MPAN.
- Export agreement: If the client expects export payments, ask for the export agreement or supplier offer.
Then check the client’s battery and controls so GridVolt can check whether the equipment can accept trading instructions:
- Battery and inverter details: The make, model, rated kW and usable kWh.
- Existing controller or EMS: What currently tells the battery when to charge and discharge.
- External commands: Whether the battery and inverter can accept charge and discharge instructions from an outside controller.
- Existing aggregator: Whether another company already trades the battery or controls it for flexibility.
- Exclusive rights: Whether any existing contract gives another provider exclusive rights to use the battery for trading.
This is important because we need to know that the GridVolt software can send the inverter or controller a charge or discharge command it can follow.
Then check the site limits:
- Import limit: The maximum electricity the site is allowed to draw from the grid.
- Export limit: The maximum electricity the site is allowed to send back to the grid.
- G99 or G100 conditions: The DNO offer, connection agreement or export limitation details.
- Peak-shaving requirement: How much battery power the site already needs to keep demand below a target level.
- Backup reserve: Whether the client keeps part of the battery back for backup.
- Spare import capacity: Whether the site has room to charge the battery more when prices are low or negative.
- Export headroom: If the battery can export, check whether there is enough room under the export limit.
A client may have a large battery, but GridVolt first has to set aside the kW and kWh the site needs for peak shaving, backup reserve and storing solar. If these jobs already use most of the battery, there may not be much left for trading.
Then send over these contracts:
- Electricity supply contract: Any terms on battery charging, grid charging or third-party trading.
- Export agreement: Any terms on payment for electricity discharged from a battery, not just electricity exported directly from solar.
- Battery warranty: Any limits on extra cycling, grid charging or export.
- Existing flexibility contract: Any demand response, flexibility or aggregation agreement the client has already signed.
- Maintenance contract: Any service-provider limits on how the battery can be used.
As soon as we have this information, we can tell you whether the site is likely to qualify for trading and whether there is a trading income figure you can safely put in the proposal.
Related questions
What battery trading income can we put in a GB commercial proposal?