WRITTEN BY SMARTMETERS

A new report by the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC) found both the energy industry and public support smart meters but believe the benefits of the device need to be communicated clearly and challenges such as misuse of data and concerns over utilities remotely controlling home appliances also need to be addressed. 

The report identifies the main conundrum: there has been hesitancy in developing smart grids until electric vehicles and renewables are more widely used; but increased deployment of those technologies requires smarter systems to provide a reliable supply of electricity.

So it is possible people will turn to gas and not develop the smart grid to fruition, which the stufy calls being Minimum Smart, or renewables and electric vehicles are strongly incentivized and developed creating a consumer-driven smart grid, a scenario called Smart 2050.

The two-year study was conducted by a team comprised of social scientists, urban planners, engineers, and energy policy experts from several universities including Westminster, Brunel, Cardiff, Exeter, and Nottingham.

The project leader from the University of Westminster’s Policy Studies Institute Nazmiye Balta-Ozkan says: “The UK’s electricity grid is fast becoming outdated, as new technologies and new behaviours change the way we use and supply power. Our increased use of intermittent renewables and electric vehicles will require more intelligent ways of managing and delivering energy. But energy suppliers and the government need to be switched on to consumer concerns about this transition.”

The preferred option of more than half the respondents was the Groundswell scenario, where “a significant amount of electricity is generated by households and through community led schemes.” This strategy was popular because it showed a strong commitment to renewable energy

Ozkan adds: “Smart grids could allow consumers’ to benefit from cheaper energy bills by matching tariffs to their usage patterns, as well as enabling more efficient use of energy and more effective integration of large amounts of renewables. However, policy needs to address the long-term issues around risk, innovation and investment, as well as equity so that vulnerable consumers are not disadvantaged.”

© smartmeters.com. No Reproduction without permission.