The Practice and Potential of Renewable Energy Localisation: Results from a UK Field Trial

Abstract

The adaptation of electricity demand to match the non-despatchable nature of renewable generation is one of the key challenges of the energy transition. We describe a UK field trial in 48 homes of an approach to this problem aimed at directly matching local supply and demand. This combined a community-based business model with social engagement and demand response technology employing both thermal and electrical energy storage. A proportion of these homes (14) were equipped with rooftop photovoltaics (PV) amounting to a total of 45 kWp; the business model enabled the remaining 34 homes to consume the electricity exported from the PV-equipped dwellings at a favourably low tariff in the context of a time-of-day tariff scheme. We report on the useful financial return achieved by all participants, their overall experience of the trial, and the proportion of local generation consumed locally. The energy storage devices were controlled, with user oversight, to respond automatically to signals indicating the availability of low cost electricity either from the photovoltaics or the time of day grid tariff. A substantial response was observed in the resulting demand profile from these controls, less so from demand scheduling methods which required regular user configuration. Finally results are reported from a follow-up fully commercial implementation of the concept showing the viability of the business model. We conclude that the sustainability of the transition to renewable energy can be strengthened with a community-oriented approach as demonstrated in the trial that supports users through technological change and improves return on investment by matching local generation and consumption.

Smart local energy systems (SLES): A framework for exploring transition, context, and impacts

“…"Smart Energy is the application of real-time bi-directional communication of information to ensure the intelligent distribution of supply & demand in the energy network" [16] Two-way communication is noted as a feature that characterises smart energy, and smart grids in particular, [38,62], while various authors highlight the need for additional metering [41] and engagement to obtain feedback [63].…”

Smart Local Energy Systems (SLES): A framework for exploring transition, context, and impacts

“…One interviewee also mentioned that the smartness came from "... collecting digital information from them and you have some ability to influence it [the energy system], based on that data." INT4 This last viewpoint reflects a common perspective in the literature, that smart means capturing data in order to inform services and better operate the system [35]: "Smart Energy is the application of real-time bi-directional communication of information to ensure the intelligent distribution of supply & demand in the energy network" [21] Two-way communication is noted as a feature that characterises smart energy, and smart grids in particular, [31,55], while various authors highlight the need for additional metering [34] and engagement to obtain feedback [56].…”

“…Local can also be considered in terms of the physical networks and infrastructure that enable energy to flow. As a key purpose of SLES is local balancing -"matching generation with demand at a local level to minimise the amount of electricity exported out of and imported into a local area" [63] boundaries are often defined by network segment; e.g., all residents connected to the low voltage network beneath a particular electricity substation [56] or beneath a known supply bottleneck.…”

Formation of Network Infrastructure of Intellectual Electricity Communities in Ukraine

“…У контексті розвитку Інтелектуальної Електроенергетичної Спільноти (ІЕС) -потреба в інтелектуальних підходах до керування та координації технологій різного спектру для перетворення та передачі електричної енергії добре відома [5]. Сьогодні в Україні проблему впровадження систем Smart Grid на рівні ОЕС України вже вирішується залученням системи Smart Metering [6] (інтелектуальний облік використаної та згенерованої в мережу електричної енергії) та широким розповсюдженням різного роду інтелектуальних датчиків та систем моніторингу з вбудованими алгоритмами керування.…”

“…(5) описує режим зарядки системи акумулювання електричної енергії у часовому проміжку h, коли потужність заряду (h) додатна; -рівняння (6) описує систему акумулювання електричної енергії у часовому проміжку h, коли потужність…”