Day Ahead Constraint Flows and Limits
Summary
NESO releases day-ahead constraint flow data showing actual power flows and thermal limits across transmission boundaries. The data captures network conditions at the time of measurement and includes visual network diagrams showing constraint boundaries and flow directions. Published 5 November 2019, this represents operational transparency rather than market mechanism change.
Why it matters
Constraint data enables market participants to understand where the network binds and anticipate balancing costs, but the information arrives too late to influence day-ahead bidding. The data reveals network bottlenecks that drive constraint payments — transparency that benefits traders and generators but doesn't change the underlying cost allocation.
Key facts
- •Day-ahead snapshot data
- •Shows thermal limits and actual flows
- •Visual network diagrams included
- •Published 5 November 2019
Areas affected
Related programmes
Memo3,295 words
A snapshot of the limits and flows at relevant boundaries at day ahead stage. These flow values are true for when the measurement was taken and will not reflect any changes in the flows following the publication of this data. The network diagrams show the constraint boundaries and arrows indicating the positive direction of power flow across each boundary. --- Legend to Hunterston East 400kV 400 kV Circuit 275 kV Circuit 220 kV Circuit 132 kV Circuit 400 kV Substation 275 kV Substation 132 kV Substation Note 1: Not all radial 132 kV circuits are indicated on this diagram Note 2: Substations and transmission circuits that are not entirely built do not appear in this map. to Chapel Cross 132kV to Gretna/ Hawick 132kV A C2N2 C2M6 205 2 1 to Moffat 400kV B A 101 107 37F GM+SNOW5A SSHARN3 HEYSHAM F254 F252 2DG F251 F253 HARKER 283 262 202 S206 FOURSTONES HARSPNBLY 2 1 HUTTON 270 271 S207 MIDDLETON A22L A22K A B WASHWAY FARM STANAH 1 2 A 245 B 246 A B 247 248 KIRKBY 3 2 1 206 205 2 1 RAINHILL 2 208 1 207 226 264 B 2 266 263 A 1 265 268 269 PENWORTHAM 35 Q224 1 224 390 267 250 244 25A 35 Q253 1 BRADFORD WEST 349 KIRKSTALL A 343 F390 A 334 350 Q348 19 1 SKELTON GRANGE PADIHAM ELLAND FERRYBRIDGE 'C' 204 201 2 1 LISTER DRIVE R214 A 2 9 2 R 3 4 2 1 FIDDLERS FERRY 3 9 2 R 210 2 209 1 2 1 KEARSLEY F388 ROCHDALE 26C F26B 212 2 2 233 235 234 1 F277 FRODSHAM F276 ROCKSAVAGE 253 F26A 254 232 1 WHITE- GATE 214 211 BIRKENHEAD 213 2 1 BODELWYDDAN CAPENHURST 274 1 2 5 1 2 F A 6 1 2 F B 23D 275 CARRINGTON 4 252 27F 2 DAINES 255 3 229 1 230 2 238 1 2 231 WYLFA 219 1 PENTIR 20M 3 259 1 2 260 1 DINORWIG 216 258 2 3 1 2 2 4 1 2 215 27E 1 2 27L EIR - EWIC (500MW) 2 27K 1 FLINTSHIRE 27D 2 1 2 MACCLESFIELD F255 240 27C 1 1 2 582 CONNAHS QUAY 583 CELLARHEAD SOUTH MANCHESTER 237 BREDBURY 241 23A WILLINGTON EAST 226 F223 220 22B BRIDGE A 225 FFESTINIOG F224 TRAWSFYNYDD 58A 1 B SHREWSBURY 58B IRONBRIDGE 2 581 503 A 22E 22C 39 1 Q278 Q279 39 1 1 2 B 22F 27G 27J LEGACY RUGELEY 501 574 1 2 502 526 520 BUSHBURY F506 1 2 DRAKELOW 573 575 514 519 2 1 579 505 504 2 A F505 1 B F504 525 BISHOPS WOOD 527 524 523 2 1 52A PENN 52B WILLENHALL KITWELL 532 OCKER HILL 33 1 Q 522 518 2 517 1 521 OLDBURY F519 A F518 BUSTLEHOLM 1 2 51A F508 519 F517 NECHELLS 515 1 508 516 2 FECKENHAM F528 BLYTH NSL – INTNSL 1400MW 2 1 to Eccles 400kV to Gretna 400kV 37C 37E B 393 A 39J STELLA WEST 392 39H B 9 9 3 F A 6 9 3 F 1 2 399 398 F303 301 37D 1 3 F304 B304 B303 T35J TYNEMOUTH A B305 B300 SOUTH SHIELDS WEST BOLDON B306 A322 B32U OFFERTON B32V F322 B307 B30H A B377 HAWTHORN PIT B310 HARTMOOR 321 314 2 2 A329 1 1 SPENNYMOOR A315 KNARESBOROUGH 348 36A POPPLETON 36B 1 2 G 3 3 A 9 1 3 F C 5 3 F NORTON 347 1 355 33B 2 348 2 1 2 1 33A THORNTON LACKENBY 1 2 SALTHOLME A33H B326 311 B352 C 2 3 F B30G B351 E 3 3 F 7 5 C 317 B TOD POINT 1 2 HARTLEPOOL 3 E 4 3 4 F 4 3 2 C 3 3 4 F D 3 3 F 6 A 21 D C 3 3 3 3 1 GREYSTONES 38G HEDON 38H 387 333 STALYBRIDGE F285 236 1 2 2 1 356 1 2 OSBALDWICK 386 34D 1 2 3 319 323 1 2 1 2 1A 1B 4 3 A 3 4 3 5 5 3 3 35A B 332 2 1 F386 F385 F32A 1 A 2 34A A 347 MONK FRYSTON A 2 3 5 8 3 5 3 3 388 345 285 STOCKSBRIDGE 357 358 2 332 1 34C DRAX 1 346 2 317 R365 1 2 KEADBY 37C 360 344 A 1 2 EGGBOROUGH 343 2 1 F363 F362 39E THORPE MARSH F337 349 1 2 HIGH MARNHAM 403 WEST MELTON 338 336 1 2 337 381 ALDWARKE 480 339 380 Q284 238 A F364 39 1 A NEEPSEND 364 361 359 PITSMOOR 367 368 WINCOBANK 366 CREYKE BECK 35A A 35B 3 1 2 39 1 Q492 38A 38B 38C 38D 35D B 35E 38C HUMBER REFINERY 34E KILLINGHOLME 35F 30A 30C 39 1 Q493 1 2 394 389 SALTEND NORTH 34A SALTEND SOUTH SOUTH HUMBER BANK 32E 32F GRIMSBY WEST 413 1 492 2 493 R430 1 2 WEST BURTON 2 1 COTTAM 481 1 2 483 686 39F 408 442 41L BICKER FEN Viking – INTVKL 1400MW TEMPLEBOROUGH SHEFFIELD CITY 378 A 2 2 1 1 369 370 B 376 375 NORTON LEES THURCROFT 340 342 1 2 F36B F36A BRINSWORTH 391 1 401 1 2 2 402 CHESTERFIELD 41E 3 2 1 372 371 392 420 39 1 Q404 1 A 1 2 39D 2 685 JORDANTHORPE STOKE BARDOLPH 41F 411 427 1 2 57B A F429 421 RATCLIFFE ON SOAR MARKET HARBOROUGH 44L A Q421 39 1 STAYTHORPE FLOWSTH RYHALL COVENTRY PATFORD BRIDGE 2 2 1 417 ENDERBY B 2 41B 40A 1 A 1 40D 2 41C 415 418 1 2 HAMS 1 HALL 531 511 BERKSWELL 57A 486 41K GRENDON 600 487 B A 484 1 2 643 A64F 669 1 601 2 65G BURWELL MAIN 1 2 EATON SOCON 482 655 65H SUTTON BRIDGE SPALDING NORTH 494 WALPOLE 659 65S 65U 65W 2 65R 1 65Q 2 65T 1 NECTON NORWICH MAIN LEISTON EIR - Greenlink (500MW) PEMBROKE 80M 2 80L 1 804 3 2 1 RHIGOS 801 815 1 80P 80Y 82C 82D WALHAM 87C RASSAU 3 819 SWANSEA NORTH 805 F811 CILFYNYDD F822 F82E F819 811 B A BAGLAN BAY 1 82E 822 UPPER BOAT 874 IMPERIAL PARK 87D 1 2 821 820 1 2 82F MARGAM 827 PYLE COWBRIDGE 829 82H A 82K CARDIFF EAST 82A 82J 2 1 854 A ABERTHAW TREMORFA USKMOUTH 7 9 8 8 9 8 869 899 B 857 A 853 1 2 WHITSON 855 A 867 19 1 Q859 B A Q858 19 1 83A 1 873 2 IRON ACTON 812 1 2 813 815 1 A 814 2 0 1 8 9 0 8 MELKSHAM 817 SEABANK 816 A80F SANDFORD ALVERDISCOTT 834 A 876 TAUNTON 1 1 SHURTON A809 A810 B HINKLEY POINT A806 A80K 1 A800 A808 2 829 B 877 2 A81Y A81Z 1 2 BRIDGWATER TEE AXMINSTER 1 871 2 869 2 879 852 A84F 2 851 530 529 586 589 881 88B EAST CLAYDON 48D B A618 SUNDON 604 PELHAM 602 2 A697 1 A696 A617 A LEIGHTON BUZZARD 1 2 3 A605 1 A608 2 WYMONDLEY MAIN RYE HOUSE 603 612 616 A 1 2 615 611 1 B 654 646 861 844 CULHAM JET 842 843 A 845 AMERSHAM MAIN COWLEY B A 610 609 B 3 6 6 F 2 6 6 F A 1 6 6 F 4 6 6 F 1 2 3 3 6 1 4 3 6 2 2 1 A 7 0 6 R 7 0 6 A B F608 IVER 1 2 1 659 660 WATFORD SOUTH 2 F609 ELSTREE MINETY R84A 1 2 DIDCOT 693 EALING 692 WILLESDEN 1 19 606 714 Q726 716 715 A 635 636 3 1 6 F 1 2 9 1 16 0 2 6 A 4 1 6 F 1 B 7 1 6 F 2 8 1 6 F WALTHAM CROSS 1 2 6 2 4 A B 2 2 6 3 2 6 5 2 36 C D 4 2 6 6 2 6 653 3 4 W 2 1 65B BRAINTREE B WARLEY 2 1 2 S68A 689 BRAMFORD 663 664 641 A 614 644 2 4 65B 1 653 623 688 687 686 SIZEWELL RAYLEIGH MAIN 645 BULLS LODGE 683 68A 2 1 SEIMPPR23 1 638 637 TILBURY F685 2 F686 A788 CORYTON SOUTH 68B A787 2 1 733 2 LALEHAM A 788 787 B 1 A 785 784 WEST WEYBRIDGE F725 1 691 2 1 6 2 7 F 2 692 REDBRIDGE TOTTENHAM 2 632 2 1 1 630 65A 650 F645 HACKNEY 1 629 2 631 WEST THURROCK 2 E 1 652 648 F646 1 2 647 64D F665 HIGHBURY 7 64C 1 9 4 6 1 5 6 1 0 7 6 F 2 1 7 6 F KENSAL GREEN 1 2 620 621 2 690 689 1 ST JOHNS WOOD 2 64E PUDDING MILL LANE 668 CITY ROAD 2 1 60J WEST HAM 9 3 Q60A A 1 1 672 2 673 9 3 78D 78E BARKING Q60B 1 667 60C 60D 60K 60E B 2 F700 WIMBLEDON 1 711 NEW CROSS 1 1 2 735 708 2 712 2 736 709 HURST 2 1 LITTLEBROOK F708 B 2 1 A F709 B71C A 1 722 2 723 1 2 718 719 721 2 CHESSINGTON 1 720 BEDDINGTON 3 1 2 F756 F755 F753 F754 750 751 KEMSLEY ROWDOWN 749 752 A 754 ELECLINK - ELECLINK 1000MW 753 1 2 B 706 707 1 2 SELLINDGE B 674 758 5 7 6 759 A78B A78C 2 1 TILBURY R758 R759 A785 DAMHEAD CREEK A B 78K 78L NORTHFLEET EAST 70C 70A 70B 70D SINGLEWELL 769 B1 0 7 R 2 KINGS- NORTH 789 795 1 2 MEDWAY 748 2 8 6 7 7 6 7 GRAIN A784 1 6 6 7 I D E N T R B – D E N T R B I W M 0 0 2 1 35 1 Q742 R746 4 3 744 2 743 1 Q745 746 1 864 2 865 BRAMLEY 848 1 884 2 849 846 883 847 2 1 2 1 FLEET 836 2 835 1 87B 2 831 1 2 1 LANGAGE 83E 83F 83B B 83D A1 833 INDIAN QUEENS LANDULPH ABHAM 2 84D NURSLING 84E LOVEDEAN EXETER A860 1 830 CHICKERELL 1 83H 83G A 839 MANNINGTON 84H 84V 05/06/2025 E&W Master Picasso.v1 MARCHWOOD 837 84G FAWLEY 84X 84U 862 84Y BOTLEY WOOD CHILLING 2 1 BOLNEY 782 783 732 731 2 1 NINFIELD 2 1 IFA 2 – INTIFA2 1000MW 72E 729 72D 739 DUNGENESS F727 F728 2 1 73N 73J 35 1 741 73P 73V 73K 73M 2 73R 1 745 1 2 73U 73Q 1 73L SELLINDGE A IFA 1 - FRANCE 2000MW 2 CANTERBURY NORTH CLEVE HILL NEMO – NEMO 1000MW 73G 73H RICHBOROUGH --- DOUNREAY 14G UT1 15J THURSO SOUTH 1 TP1 14Y SPITTAL 147 2 U G N 14W UT2 2 TP2 14Z 111 Creag Raibhach 12L 12P 1 U G N CONNAGILL 1 G N D U 3 1 GORDONBUSH S 1 1 1 D T STRATHBRORA 2 G N L L 4 1 1 T L N 4 1 1 L Y F R 4 1 FYRISH T 4 1 1 Y F B 1 C B ) 1 ( 0 9 1 11H BN1 F105 F104 BEAULY A 0 1 1 G B E L Y K A N S A F R 1 1 1 G N STORNOWAY 9 6 1 S H HARRIS ARDMORE 3 P 1 DUNVEGAN 0 V 1 EDINBANE U 3 1 BROADFORD 18P 177 PM1 178 PM2 Dalchork 11O DLB2 MYBSTER DME 1JX DUNBEATH LM1 1JY 16W LOCH BUIDHE BRORA 1JZ LD2 16U LS2 16I DLB1 12E 12F 16T LS1 SHIN 2 L Y F S 4 1 U 4 1 2 Y F B 136 1JS 1JU BSW BSE 1JT 1JR 7 1 - 1 137 13A 2 C B ) 2 ( 2 9 1 17X BC3 BC4 17Y KERGORD 1 0 9 G 0 0 1 G ROTHIENORMAN XR2 10N KINTORE 12D 7 1 - 1 BNN 1L9 1LQ BNS 1LR NAIRN 1 2 NEN 1LW 1LS NES I N G L E EKN 1LX 1LT EKS KEITH 146 145 17S MAG1 17T MAG2 GF 1L3 FK 1L4 GLENFARCLAS 8 6 1 2 U K H TOMATIN 12Z CMA1 1B2 15C CMA2 13H BOAT OF GARTEN CA1 199 DALLAS XR1 10M 11C 1 R H L 0 1 2 R H P 0 1 0 A 1 1 U K H 112 106 BLACKHILLOCK 107 XH1 144 2 S X C 8 1 X S 1 1 8 B X D 1 2 X D C 9 N 1 2 P 1 10R 2 1 10P 126 13R CFR2 KNOCKNAGAEL 13L CFR1 15A FRO1 CU2 19M 1DM UH2 BERRYBURN FARIGAIG FOYERS 15B FRO2 FORT AUGUSTUS 17A GM1 1 9 7 TUMMEL 1 9 6 10S C 1 1 D 1 1 GEL1 114 MELGARVE ELY1 113 11E (1) NL1 KILLIN INVERARAY 1VB IK1 KS1 1VC 11H (1) SN1 ARDKINGLAS 11F (2) NL2 11G (2) SN2 INVERARNAN T 0 1 U 0 1 12S DALMALLY M V 1 W D I 5 6 1 E A I AN SUIDHE CRARAE 1 N S T V 1 SWW1 1MC SWW2 1ME SLOY 1MD SHE2 1MF SWE1 15Y 131 7 0 1 ) 1 ( J A 1 1 1 0 6 ) 2 ( M A 1 2 CRUACHAN 1 1 L 1 Y B W Z 14P AH1 HCD2 1DV CAIRNFORD FETTERESSO 2 Y S 3 E 1 1 Y S W E 1 ME1 1F7 ME2 1F8 SSE N-S ALYTH TEALING ELW 1LE M 1 F K 3 1 17 -1 7 1 - 1 L C 1 Q M C 1 Q 7 1 - 1 1LI ECN 1KP ECS ERROCHTY 1VH EG1 1VG EG2 Q104 KINARDOCHY K B 1 1 F 2 BRACO WEST COUPAR ANGUS 1LK CCN 1KQ CCS 1 2 HCN 1KR HCS 1LL ERROEX 1 Z Y Y E 1 I N F F R G I GP1 1V8 GA2 1V1 I E N U L C 2 Z Y Z E 1 NDR1 19F NDR2 19G NEW DEER 19J VND2 19H VND1 12C VV2 15K 12B 1FK VV1 11K VX2 159 PX 171 PETERHEAD 144 143 121 VP 140 141 142 CRAIGIEBUCKLER XCN 1KF 1KE XCS 0 K 1 T K 1 1M6 CW1 WOODHILL 1MH WJ1 WILLOWDALE 1TD JPE 1M5 CW3 1MJ WJ3 CRN 1M7 RFW 1M3 W F J 1 M 1 1U9 JPW E F J 2 M 1 CRS 1M8 REDMOSS RFE 1M4 CLAYHILLS 1KN XCW CF 1KU 152 150 PERSLEY ARBROATH MILTON OF CRAIGIE 2 1 MD2 MD1 1JK 1JE 1BP 1BR CLN CLS TARLAND 173 XT1 172 XT2 FIDDES 1 - 7 1 Q1CN FB 1V6 BRECHIN TBN 1KY TAN Z K 1 138 139 151 TCW TCE 1KS 1LM TAN 1G4 TAS 1E9 1G9 TM2 1G8 TM1 CHARLESTON 1F1 CGN T S R U H D N Y L 1F4 S E N G A N E L G E P O H D U D GDN 1J4 1 W T 9 7 1 2 W T 8 7 1 1F2 CGS 1F3 GDS 1J3 1C3 PCN 1G3 CAS BURGHMUIR 127 139 160 GLENROTHES WESTFIELD 130 147 1 2 10V L C 1 3 W 1 154/155 152/1A8 ABERNETHY LEVEN CUPAR 1C1 149 1DP 2 1 120 MOSSMORRAN 1GB 1HD RED HOUSE 1FC 1FA (1) 1FB (2) DEVONSIDE GLENNISTON 1W4 1ZC 1ZD STIRLING SSE - SP2 (J) (K) 141 YZ1 145 YZ2 1D3 0 4 W 5 4 F / : A : B W 6 0 / L 6 0 R141 142 (1) 1 KINCARDINE LONGANNET R142 148 (2) 2 11B 104 1D2 10Y 10Z DENNY NORTH 101 S13S 110 CLYDES MILL BONNYBRIDGE 4 0 1 3 0 1 6 2 1 11C 11E 10X 111 134 EASTERHOUSE 1AC 1AD GRANGEMOUTH 0 4 1 5 2 1 NKILGRMO CURRIE 2 A 1 NEWARTHILL 1 2 ) 1 ( 5 C 1 ) 2 ( 4 C 1 ) 2 ( 0 7 1 ) 1 ( E C 1 KAIMES R P D L J 1 1GN 1JQ PORT ANN P G 1 R P D A 6 1 Q 1 2 - 1 M G 1 R P E A P J 1 B 6 1 Q DUNOON 1MA 1HJ 1MB 1HH GL1 1EB 1DH GL2 1EC N E V E L H T A R T S WHISTLEFIELD SWW2 1DJ WS 1HF 1DE 1DF SWE1 1EA HELENS- BURGH WHE 1FE 133 WINDYHILL 1 2 - 1 CROSSAIG F 6 1 E 6 1 RH1 14A (1) RH2 14B (2) 3 1 1 4 1 1 DEVOLMOOR 1CD 163 11C HUNTERSTON NORTH 1SM HUNTERSTON FARM 1CX 1DL 1SN HUNTERSTON 116 16C(1) Z 0 1 W 0 1 HUNTERSTON 10V EAST 1NL 117 1BZ 1CV 11D 16E(2) A110 (1) A125 (2) SALTCOATS 1DS 1DR 132 134 3 6 1 F B 3 4 1 R A 15Y 114 LAMBHILL ERSKINE H A 1 108 J A 1 BRAEHEAD PARK 1FM/1FS 1MS 1AF HAGGS RD 1MT 1FT/1FU GOVAN HUNTERSTON CONVERTER 157 (1) 11K NEILSTON 1GF 123 1GG F117 F178 122 121 KILWINNING 1DT 1CT MEADOWHEAD 1 2 10W 110 KILMARNOCK SOUTH 10A 120 GIS AIS ) 1 ( 1 0 1 1CB (1) 182 (2) AYR ) 1 ( 3 2 1 11A 10X AUCHENCROSH + + - - to N. Ireland A ) 2 ( S A 1 B ) 2 ( 4 2 1 12A COYLTON 148 1BF 13K(2) 107 13J(1) 1BG 18A HADYARD HILL 1BH 1GD MAYBOLE NEW CUMNOCK SGT1B 1E5 101 13N 1EK 1EG KENDOON 1EJ TONGLAND 1CJ PAISLEY 186 (2) 184 (1) EAST KILBRIDE EAST KILBRIDE SOUTH 105 136 104 BUSBY 135 11K 122 (1) ) 1 ( 7 A 1 A ) 1 ( 7 8 1 ) 2 ( 6 A 1 B ) 2 ( 1 8 1 1 2 8 0 1 F 1 2 2 1 F 2 STRATHAVEN 102 1ES COALBURN 105 ELVANFOOT 106 MOFFAT 1ET GLENLUCE 1DZ 1EH NEWTON STEWART GLENLEE DUMFRIES GALLEX CHAPELCROSS 1BA (1) 1BB (2) 1BL (2) 1BK (1) GRETNA 1BM HAWICK 1TZ 11S 1BN 11R 10E 10C Legend to Flintshire Bridge 400 kV Circuit 275 kV Circuit 132 kV Circuit 33 kV Circuit 400 kV Substation 275 kV Substation 132 kV Substation Note 1: Not all radial 132 kV circuits are indicated on this diagram Note 2: Substations and transmission circuits that are not entirely built do not appear in this map. 1H9 A 2N2 2M6 101 107 B A 283 2DG HARKER 9 6 F253 F251 F254 F252 N S 5 10 205 3B 262 202 205 HUTTON to Heysham and Penwortham SCOTEX FOURSTONES 37F 37C 37E DUNLAW EXTENSION 112 Z 4 1 1DD (2) 1DC (1) GALASHIELS B A393 A A39J 399 14C (2) 14B (1) 392 39H 398 9 9 3 F 6 9 3 F STELLA WEST 301 37D 4 1 3 1 2 3 to Spennymoor ) 1 ( 4 4 1 ) 2 ( 0 4 1 ) 1 ( 8 4 1 ) 2 ( 9 4 1 2 101 102 1 ECCLES NSL BLYTH to Tynemouth F19A F19B 178 WISHAW 179 16A 14V 10B 8 5 1 F SMEATON FALLAGO 19E 197 1CF 1CH COCKENZIE 0 9 1 F A 1 4 1 F B 10F TORNESS 16B CRYSTAL RIG