Distribution Network Options Assessment (DNOA)
The Distribution Network Options Assessment (DNOA) Methodology is a framework designed to explore all options, including flexibility, to meet capacity needs and to deliver a reduction of up to £410 million in load-related expenditure during RIIO-ED2 in a transparent manner. The DNOA suite of documents is published annually and provides transparency to the industry on the decisions we are making across our Southeast, London and East of England regions.
In our DNOA process, we identify future capacity needs based on the latest predictions from our Distribution Future Energy Scenarios (DFES). We then source all the viable options to resolve our system needs, compare them and make a recommendation for the optimal solution. This work combines information from multiple publicly shared databases and is explained in the methodology document.
The information provided will inform our stakeholders, such as Flexibility Providers (FPs), Local Authorities, Ofgem, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and other interested parties about developments on our network. This presents upcoming opportunities to participate in the flexibility market, providing transparency to policy makers about our internal governance and facilitating other stakeholders’ development plans towards Net Zero.
The Distribution Network Options Assessment (DNOA) Methodology is a framework designed to explore all options, including flexibility, to meet capacity needs and to deliver a reduction of up to £410 million in load-related expenditure during RIIO-ED2 in a transparent manner. The DNOA suite of documents is published annually and provides transparency to the industry on the decisions we are making across our Southeast, London and East of England regions.
In our DNOA process, we identify future capacity needs based on the latest predictions from our Distribution Future Energy Scenarios (DFES). We then source all the viable options to resolve our system needs, compare them and make a recommendation for the optimal solution. This work combines information from multiple publicly shared databases and is explained in the methodology document.
The information provided will inform our stakeholders, such as Flexibility Providers (FPs), Local Authorities, Ofgem, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and other interested parties about developments on our network. This presents upcoming opportunities to participate in the flexibility market, providing transparency to policy makers about our internal governance and facilitating other stakeholders’ development plans towards Net Zero.
DNOA March 2025
In March 2025 we published the third version of our DNOA Reports following the completion of flexibility tender round 11. The DNOA 2025 Reports file provides a comprehensive overview of the approved recommendations. We present detailed reports for EHV/HV demand sites, LV sites, and whole system use cases.
This year, we experienced changes in distribution future energy scenarios.
In the “RIIO-3 Business Plan Guidance” document published by Ofgem in September 2024, Ofgem directed Gas and Electricity Transmission companies to develop their final RIIO-3 Business Plans based on Holistic Transition scenario. During the final quarter of 2024, we changed our preferred scenario from Consumer Transformation to Holistic Transition.
Our forecasts have been updated to reflect the lower uptake of electric vehicles and heat pumps compared to previous projections. This year we have incorporated high confidence local insights into our best view forecast. The above have impacted our load growth forecasts. We observed that the forecasted capacity needs were deferred for a number of sites.
Lastly, flexibility tender round 11 was completed in December 2024. We secured capacity from nine Flexibility Service Providers.
We are publishing alongside this report, a full list of sites where we will consider investment decisions out to 2050 to give greater transparency of our system needs. This list will be regularly updated going forwards.
Below you will find links to download the latest DNOA publication documents.
DNOA March 2025
In March 2025 we published the third version of our DNOA Reports following the completion of flexibility tender round 11. The DNOA 2025 Reports file provides a comprehensive overview of the approved recommendations. We present detailed reports for EHV/HV demand sites, LV sites, and whole system use cases.
This year, we experienced changes in distribution future energy scenarios.
In the “RIIO-3 Business Plan Guidance” document published by Ofgem in September 2024, Ofgem directed Gas and Electricity Transmission companies to develop their final RIIO-3 Business Plans based on Holistic Transition scenario. During the final quarter of 2024, we changed our preferred scenario from Consumer Transformation to Holistic Transition.
Our forecasts have been updated to reflect the lower uptake of electric vehicles and heat pumps compared to previous projections. This year we have incorporated high confidence local insights into our best view forecast. The above have impacted our load growth forecasts. We observed that the forecasted capacity needs were deferred for a number of sites.
Lastly, flexibility tender round 11 was completed in December 2024. We secured capacity from nine Flexibility Service Providers.
We are publishing alongside this report, a full list of sites where we will consider investment decisions out to 2050 to give greater transparency of our system needs. This list will be regularly updated going forwards.
Below you will find links to download the latest DNOA publication documents.