Brook Green Supply and Palm Paper win Best I&C Initiative at Utility Week Flex Awards

Brook Green Supply and Palm Paper are delighted to have been named winners of Best Industrial & Commercial Initiative at the Utility Week Flex Awards, recognising a project that has helped transform a major UK paper mill into a pioneer of data-driven, market-led flexibility and an active participant in the energy transition.

The initiative brings together Brook Green Supply’s energy trading expertise and data-led capability to design more flexible approaches to industrial energy use, alongside Palm Paper’s onsite operational capability. Rather than treating electricity consumption and onsite generation separately, the project integrates both into a single operating model within a live industrial environment.

This marks a shift from passive energy consumption to active participation in electricity markets. By aligning wholesale market signals with production planning and combined heat and power (CHP) operation, the site is able to adjust when it consumes energy and when it exports power, embedding flexibility directly into day-to-day manufacturing decisions.

Market conditions are translated into operational choices through shared data visibility and embedded scheduling, enabling trading and onsite teams to coordinate more closely. The approach also makes use of existing onsite systems and operational data, supporting rapid implementation without reliance on new external platforms or complex additional infrastructure.

The result is a more responsive industrial energy model, where commercial and operational decision-making are closely aligned. This has enabled the site to respond more effectively to price signals and system conditions while maintaining strong production levels.

More broadly, the project demonstrates how large industrial energy users can play a more active role in supporting a renewable-heavy electricity system. By increasing flexibility in energy use, industrial assets can help balance supply and demand while improving efficiency – a clear example of what can be achieved through close supplier–customer collaboration.

"Brook Green Supply is increasingly focused on using data and trading insight to design how energy is consumed, produced, and managed. This project is a clear example of how a detailed understanding of a customer's consumption patterns and the underlying flexibility at site allows us to align market signals with operational reality, unlocking value for customers and supporting wider electricity system security and robustness. As energy markets become more complex and dynamic, that ability to translate data into actionable decisions will become a defining capability for energy suppliers and large energy users alike."

Sam Hill

Trading Director, Brook Green Supply