Flexitricity has partnered with eight organisations on a new trial which it says holds the potential to “revolutionise the demand side response industry”.
The flexibility provider is participating in the government-funded Quickturn project, which aims to provide realistic opportunities for smaller commercial energy users to benefit from demand side response (DSR).
Flexitricity, which has around 500MW of flexible assets under management, is partnering with a host of SMEs and public bodies, helping some of their locations reduce energy costs while providing vital balancing services to National Grid.
The pilot is looking to tackle one of the DSR industry’s key hurdles in that smaller sites have effectively been ruled out of participating in the market, rendered uneconomical by the high entry costs associated with hardware, communications and implementation.
Flexitricity will look to dispatch flexible energy consuming assets including cold storage, air conditioning units and heat pumps, aided by the University of Edinburgh’s Institute for Digital Communications which will contribute its expertise in emerging communications technology.
The pilot is set to get underway, and findings are to be shared next year.
Dr Alastair Martin, founder and CSO at Flexitricity, said that small businesses will have an important role to play in helping National Grid meet the country’s energy demands as the low carbon transition continues.
“Flexible energy use is a vital part of a greener energy system, balancing variable renewable generation and growing demand as heat and transport are electrified. Flexitricity’s mission is to make this feasible and economically attractive for all types of energy user.
“From this perspective we are now looking forward to embarking on the trials and proving a cost and time effective solution that fits the requirements of National Grid and helps smaller commercial energy users take advantage of the UK’s need for flexible power.”
