Network operators study flexibility data from 25,000 households

National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) and Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) have launched a new study looking at how customers respond to price signals when using electric vehicles, heat pumps and batteries.

The research will analyse historical data from more than 25,000 households on Octopus Energy’s smart time-of-use tariff, making it the UK’s largest ever study into domestic flexibility.

The data was captured from households that all had one or more of an electric vehicle, a heat pump or a battery. The charging of the electric vehicles was scheduled and instructed using Ohme’s smart chargers and mobile app based on the price signals provided by Octopus.

James Eddison, chief technology officer and co-founder of Octopus Energy Group, said: “Our customers are some of the most engaged and climate-conscious in the country. Many of them are already using smart energy technologies to move their energy usage when energy is cheaper and greener and the grid is less stressed.

“By scaling up our previous demand-side-response trials and joining forces with other key players in energy, we will for the first time be able to find out how big the role is that our homes can play in providing grid flexibility. This research project will help us demonstrate how we can use energy storage in our homes and flexible energy demand to exploit renewable energy and bring about the clean, green grid of the future, globally.”

The CrowdFlex project is being paid for by the ESO and SSEN using funding from the Network Innovation Allowance. They will use the results to improve their understanding of the potential flexibility households can offer to national and local electricity networks.

Caroline Tortora, head of innovation strategy and digital transformation at the ESO, said: “Technologies like electric cars and heat pumps have a key role in helping Britain to reach net zero. But there’s a lot for us to learn about how consumer behaviour can shape that journey.

“This project will give us some really exciting insight into how smart tariffs and technologies can influence the way people consume electricity and help us balance the grid. As greater volumes of less controllable renewable power join the system, electricity consumers are only going to become more important in that balancing act.”

SSEN head of future networks Stewart Reid said: “As we move to a smarter energy system utilising flexibility can help delay and avoid network reinforcement and creates opportunities for households and businesses to play an active role in the energy system that serves them. This will be key in delivering a cost-effective, secure and inclusive transition to net zero.”