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Public awareness of the squeeze on electric power capacity in the UK is growing as old generation plants are decommissioned without immediate replacement. At the same time, the wider uptake of low carbon technologies such as electric vehicles, solar photovoltaic panels, electrical energy storage and heat pumps – necessary if the UK is to meet its carbon reduction targets – presents fresh challenges.

While the majority of attention has been focused on how we need to increase generation to help keep the lights on, some of the more cost-effective solutions have been largely overlooked.

The Customer-Led Network Revolution (CLNR) – the UK’s largest smart grid project, run by key partners Northern Powergrid, British Gas, EA Technology and Durham University – is looking at a number of solutions to help accommodate increasing numbers of low carbon technologies. The key focus areas are seeing if a level of flexibility can be established with customers, and working to make existing electricity networks more efficient through innovative new ‘smart’ technology.

Dr Liz Sidebotham, Communications Manager for the CLNR project, said: “On a national level the question being asked at the moment is, have we got enough generation? The discussion has largely been regarding infrastructure and not much attention has been given to the role that customers can play in balancing supply and demand, although the conversation is beginning to move into that space.

“Demand-side solutions are all part of the bigger picture. The issue is, do we invest in infrastructure solutions or customer solutions? This is relevant at both the national level for generating capacity and at the regional level for electricity networks. We’re looking at it in terms of electricity networks but answering the same questions through the Customer-Led Network Revolution, exploring the cost and acceptability of customer flexibility.”

Dave A. Roberts, Future Networks Director of EA Technology, one of the partnering companies involved in the Customer-Led Network Revolution, added: “There are always opportunities to keep the demand–generation seesaw in balance. A lot of large energy users already have system balancing in place and it’s starting to look more attractive within the commercial sector to incentivise moving non-essential load off peak.

“There’s plenty of activity in this sector and smart grid projects like the Customer-Led Network Revolution are looking at understanding the flexibility of different types of industrial, commercial and domestic customers.

“Changing consumer usage behaviour is a much longer term goal, much as recycling took some time to become the norm. On the commercial side, there are already real incentives to take up demand-side response through contracts with commercial entities. The market is incentivising this dynamic – it’s already happening as fast-acting generation plants respond to loads.”

Dr Sidebotham commented: “There is also the potential to look at small-scale demand-side solutions by exploring the flexibility of business and domestic customers, an area which has been largely overlooked. We are trialling a range of options with these groups, one of which is Time of Use tariffs, which encourage customers save on their bills by moving some of their usage out of higher-rate peak times to lower rate off-peak times. The domestic Time of Use tariff trial has proved to be very popular as customers recognised an opportunity to save money and we have over 600 households taking part.

“We are already seeing indications that these customers have reduced demand at peak time, saving themselves money. A time of use tariff offered to customers more widely could help manage the local electricity network and keep national supply and demand in balance at peak times – at the same time enabling customers to reduce their energy bills.

“The Customer-Led Network Revolution is demonstrating that customers can be part of the solution, and can benefit financially from taking part. Making the best use of the knowledge we’re gaining nationally could make a big difference to getting the most out of the grid, and we are sharing our findings as broadly as possible to that end.”

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