Operability Strategy Report and Electricity Markets Roadmap
The Operability Strategy Report (OSR) and Electricity Markets Roadmap naturally align on their respective messaging. The OSR combines insight from various NESO activities, including our Future Energy Scenarios (FES) publication and Clean Power 2030 (CP30) advice, with a programme of technical assessments to identify medium- and long-term requirements for operating the system. This flows into the Electricity Markets Roadmap which speaks to the market reforms that are, in part, driven by these operability challenges and opportunities.
In this year’s edition of the Operability Strategy Report and the Electricity Markets Roadmap, we have ensured a greater level of alignment between these linked publications, making them easier to navigate and more accessible for readers
An Introduction to Electricity System Operability
This guide offers an introduction to the core concepts of electricity system operability - what it is, why it matters, and how NESO keeps the grid safe, secure and efficient as it decarbonises. It provides accessible overviews of key operability areas, including balancing, flexibility, frequency, voltage, stability, thermal constraints, adequacy and restoration, and explains how these are evolving for a clean energy future. Designed to sit alongside and complement the Operability Strategy Report and the Electricity Markets Roadmap, the guide helps readers understand the technical foundations behind running a clean and operable electricity system.
Operability Strategy Report 2026
The OSR outlines the operability challenges we expect to face as we transition to a clean power electricity system in 2030 and a net zero system beyond. The report covers seven key areas of system operability: adequacy, flexibility, frequency, thermal, voltage, stability and restoration. This year it uses CP30 and FES 2025 analysis and data as a baseline to illustrate what operating a clean power system could look like.
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Electricity Markets Roadmap 2026
The Electricity Markets Roadmap details NESO’s forward-looking view of our markets, our market design principles and plans to reform and evolve our markets. It details our vision for response, reserve, thermal, voltage, stability, restoration markets, revenue stacking and the Balancing Mechanism. We have also introduced a dedicated Demand-Side Flexibility chapters to communicate how we are working towards ensuring that all forms of flexibility can participate in our markets. This includes our annual Power Responsive update.
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Our system needs are ever evolving. This infographic explains how we calculate and meet our current requirements, alongside how we think these requirements will change and what we are doing to ensure we can continue to run a safe, secure and cost-effective network.
Our Market Design Framework (MDF) was developed in 2021 and has been used since to underpin our market reform decisions to ensure they are robust and evidenced in a transparent and consistent way. This framework has also enabled us to assess the effectiveness of our existing markets, drive continuous improvement and develop new reform opportunities.
Operability Strategy Report
| Name | Published Sort ascending |
|---|---|
| Operability Strategy Report 2025 - print ready | 28 Mar 2025 |
| Operability Strategy Report 2025 - interactive | 28 Mar 2025 |
| Operability Strategy Report 2024 | 21 Dec 2022 |
| Operability strategy report 2023 | 21 Dec 2022 |
| Operability Strategy Report 2022 | 21 Dec 2021 |
| Operability Strategy Report 2021 | 8 Jan 2021 |
| Operability Strategy Report 2020 | 31 Dec 2019 |
| Operability Strategy Report 2019 update | 26 Jun 2019 |
| Operability Strategy Report 2018 | 30 Nov 2018 |
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System Conditions
Our System Conditions framework explains how the grid behaves under key clean‑power scenarios—from low demand and renewable oversupply to rapid ramps and outage‑driven constraints. It shows what tools, flexibility, and network investment are needed to operate a secure, reliable, and low‑carbon system by 2030.
Tell us what you think
Please take a moment to tell us what you think about the Operability Strategy Report and Electricity Markets Roadmap publications via a short survey. Your feedback will help us understand what you most value about both reports and what you would like to change for next year.
Enabling demand side flexibility in NESO Markets
Following our Call for Input (CFI) in June 2024, we’re responding to the urgent need to mobilise demand slide flexibility and the actions needed in the medium term to sharpen the explicit market signals. Find our latest reports in response to the CFI.
Enabling Renewable and Interconnector participation in GB ancillary services
We have published a report on what needs to happen to enable those technologies to better participate in balancing services markets.
Guidance on Enabling Asset Metering for Co-located Assets
There is a growing number of DC‑coupled co‑located sites that combine different generating technologies or fuel types. This document outlines guidance for enabling DC‑coupled PV and BESS BMUs to participate in the Balancing Mechanism and Dynamic Response markets, covering PN and BOA submissions, metering, settlements, performance monitoring, and code alignment. Please click the link above to download the document.
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