Nodal Shift Turn-Up · For flexible energy users

Get paid to use power when the wind has nowhere to go.

When Scotland's grid is congested, NESO pays wind farms to switch off. Nodal Shift Turn-Up will help your site use that power instead, and get paid for flexibility you already have.

Join the Turn-Up waitlist How it works
How a grid constraint wastes Scottish wind power Wind farms in Scotland send power south towards demand in England, but it all has to cross the B6 boundary, which can only carry a limited amount. When the boundary is full, some wind farms are paid to switch off. A Turn-Up site north of the boundary uses that power locally instead. SCOTLAND ENGLAND Switched off Turn-Up site B6 boundary
  • Wind farms generating
  • Wind farm paid to switch off
  • B6 boundary, where transfer capacity runs out
  • Turn-Up site using the spare power locally
  • Demand in England

What is demand turn-up?

Demand turn-up means using more electricity when there is surplus power on the grid, usually because wind farms are generating more than the network can move. Grid operators and flexibility markets pay sites to do this, because using the power locally is cheaper than paying wind farms to switch off and gas plants to replace them.

Read our guide to demand turn-up →

Built for sites with flexible demand

If your site can use electricity a little earlier or later without changing what it does, it may be able to earn from demand turn-up.

  • Cold storage and food distribution

    Pre-cool stores by a few degrees when power is plentiful, then coast through the peak, all inside your temperature limits.

  • EV fleet depots

    Charge vans, buses and lorries when wind power would otherwise be wasted, without missing a departure.

  • Water and wastewater

    Run pumping and aeration when constrained power is available, while meeting every treatment and storage requirement.

  • Distilleries, breweries and food production

    Move heating, cooling and process loads into constraint windows without changing what you make.

  • Commercial buildings and campuses

    Use heat pumps, electric boilers and hot water stores to soak up spare power.

  • Other flexible sites

    Thermal stores, on-site batteries and other controllable loads can all provide flexibility.

Sites anywhere in Great Britain can join the waitlist, but the biggest opportunities are behind the Scottish grid boundaries, where most curtailment happens.1

How Turn-Up works

Turn-Up is in development. Here's how it's designed to work.

  1. Connect

    We link to your building management system, chargers or controls, and you tell us the limits that matter, such as temperatures, charge levels and production schedules.

  2. Forecast

    Our AI predicts constraint events from a day ahead to within the day, using weather, network and market data.

  3. Shift

    When a constraint is coming, Turn-Up schedules extra demand inside your limits. You can approve each action or let it run automatically.

  4. Get paid

    We sell your flexibility to the services that pay for it and pass your share of the revenue to you, with a report for every event.

What turn-up could look like

Illustrative example

A cold store in Aberdeenshire

This example is illustrative. It is not a real customer, forecast or result.

A wind constraint is forecast for tomorrow afternoon. Four hours before it starts, Turn-Up lowers the cold store's set point by 3°C, staying inside the range the operator has agreed. The store runs on power that would otherwise have been curtailed.

During the evening peak, the refrigeration runs less while the store drifts back up to its normal set point. The site is paid for the extra demand during the constraint and uses less electricity at peak time.

You stay in control

Turn-Up is designed so that flexibility never comes at the expense of your operations.

  • You set the limits. Turn-Up will never move a temperature, charge level or schedule outside the range you agree.
  • Approve or automate. Approve each action yourself, or let Turn-Up act automatically within your limits.
  • Override at any time. Site staff will be able to pause or cancel any action, from our dashboard or your own control system.
  • Safety first. Food safety, process, regulatory and contractual requirements always come before flexibility revenue.
  • Clear reporting. You'll see every event, the energy shifted and what you earned.

Where the revenue comes from

Turn-Up will earn money for your site by selling its flexibility to the services that pay for demand turn-up. Which ones fit depends on where your site is, how big it is and how quickly it can respond.

  • NESO's Demand Flexibility Service , which has bought demand turn-up as well as turn-down since April 2026. 2
  • NESO's Local Constraint Market , which buys extra demand from sites behind the Scottish boundaries, both a day ahead and within the day. 3
  • The Balancing Mechanism and wholesale markets , which flexible sites can reach through a Virtual Lead Party. 4

We'll register your flexibility with the right NESO services and handle bidding, dispatch and settlement for you.

Small sites can take part too

Many flexibility markets have minimum sizes or complex registration. Turn-Up will combine sites into a single portfolio, so a site that can shift a few hundred kilowatts can take part alongside much larger ones. NESO's Demand Flexibility Service now accepts units from 0.1 MW.2

What will Turn-Up cost?

There's no upfront cost. We plan to take a share of the revenue your site earns through Turn-Up, so we only make money when you do. We'll agree the terms with each early-access site before anything goes live, including the baseline used to measure what you've earned.

Generate power rather than use it?

Nodal Shift Bid Copilot will help independent wind, solar and battery owners forecast curtailment and price their Balancing Mechanism bids. The two products are designed to work together, so constrained power can find its way to flexible Turn-Up sites. Explore Bid Copilot →

Turn-Up questions

What is Nodal Shift Turn-Up?

Nodal Shift Turn-Up is AI software, in development, that will help flexible sites earn money by using more electricity when Scottish wind would otherwise be curtailed. It will forecast constraint events, schedule extra demand within limits you set and register your flexibility with the right NESO services.

Do I need to install new hardware?

We're designing Turn-Up to connect through the building management, charging or control systems you already have. Some markets need half-hourly metering or separate metering for each asset. If your site needs anything new, we'll tell you before you commit.

Will Turn-Up affect my operations?

It shouldn't. You set the limits, such as temperature ranges, charge levels and production schedules, and Turn-Up will only act inside them. Safety, compliance and your own operations always take priority, and you'll be able to pause or override any action.

Does my site need to be in Scotland?

No. Sites anywhere in Great Britain can join the waitlist. The biggest opportunities are behind the Scottish grid boundaries, where most curtailment happens, and some services, such as NESO's Local Constraint Market, are only open to sites in those areas.

How big does my site need to be?

There's no minimum size to join the waitlist. Turn-Up will combine sites into one portfolio, so smaller sites can take part in markets they couldn't access alone. Tell us about your site and we'll let you know whether it's a good fit.

Which markets will Turn-Up use?

We expect to use NESO's Demand Flexibility Service and Local Constraint Market and, through a Virtual Lead Party, the Balancing Mechanism and wholesale markets. The right mix depends on your site's location, size and flexibility.

Do I need to change my energy supplier?

We're designing Turn-Up to work alongside your existing supply contract. Some services need your supplier's agreement or a change to your metering arrangements. We'll explain anything like that before you sign up.

How will I be paid?

We plan to collect the revenue your flexibility earns and pay you your share, with a clear report of every event, the energy shifted and how the amount was calculated. We'll agree payment terms with each early-access site.

When will Turn-Up be available?

We're opening early access to a small number of sites first. We haven't set a public launch date. Join the waitlist and we'll contact you as places open.

Join the Turn-Up waitlist

Tell us about your site and we'll contact you when early-access places open. It takes about a minute, and there's no commitment.

What happens next

  1. Confirm your email address using the link we send you.
  2. We may get in touch to learn more about your site or portfolio. There's no obligation.
  3. When early-access places open, we'll contact you first.

All fields are required unless marked optional.

We'll send you a link to confirm your place.

About your site (optional)

We'll only use your details to contact you about early access (and updates, if you tick the box). You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy notice.

Sources

  1. Modo Energy, Curtailment and constraint costs in Great Britain and Scotland, 4 March 2026. Checked 24 October 2026.
  2. National Energy System Operator, Demand Flexibility Service (DFS), Web page. Checked 24 October 2026.
  3. National Energy System Operator, Local Constraint Market, Web page. Checked 24 October 2026.
  4. Elexon, Virtual Lead Parties to offer services in the wholesale electricity market, 6 October 2023. Checked 24 October 2026.