SSE’s Distributed Energy arm is launching an energy as a service platform in a “landmark” partnership with Smarter Grid Solutions (SGS).
The new system will bring together SGS’ distributed energy resource management system (DERMS) and SSE Enterprise’s capabilities in distributed energy generation, EV infrastructure, private electricity networks and heat networks as part of a single platform.
The platform builds on SGS’ existing smart grid platform, which controls energy assets and load to manage constraints in the underlying network they’re connected to.
Its capabilities will now be enhanced, to provide revenue through wholesale, balancing and ancillary services, as well as enabling behind-the-meter and building energy optimisation.
The platform will optimise energy usage to generate revenue, deliver enhanced security of supply and meet carbon reduction targets.
Stephen Stead, director of digital services and strategy for SSE Distributed Energy arm, said real time control of local energy generation and consumption pays an “increasingly vital role” in decarbonisation.
“As energy demand increases through the electrification of services, such as transport and heat, so too will the need for responsive energy asset control to manage the growth in variable renewables,” he said.
It marks the latest partnership between suppliers and energy tech firms as the industry becomes increasingly digitalised. It ties into SSE’s ‘smart cities’ vision, Stead said, and will help support local authorities, large energy users, and building and estate owners to deploy and manage low carbon technologies.
SSE has also launched a new electric vehicle tariff this week, allowing drivers to charge overnight for free.
Graham Ault, director at Smarter Grid Solutions, said the partnership is the culmination of a “significant investment” to enhance the DERMS platform to manage diverse energy assets, deliver flexibility and provide multiple market interfaces.
SGS is also part of a consortium to build and deploy an Active Network Management system for UK Power Networks, to allow for flexible connections that would curtail any new generation connected in constrained areas during the time of constraint.
It is looking to expand into Europe after a successful trial of dynamic curtailment in Germany.
