EDF is part of a new government-backed project looking at innovative ways to reduce customer bills and their impact on the environment.
Working alongside smart energy system manufacturer, Landis + Gyr, research consultancy LCP Delta and by tapping into expertise from EDF’s Customer business, EDF’s Research and Development team will look at new customer solutions to maximise opportunities to absorb and store energy when there is an excess.
The partnership will look at how the use of new low carbon technologies such as heat pumps, storage products and electric vehicles could be supported by bespoke tariffs, further reducing pressure on the grid, as well as household bills, in both the short-term and in the future as part of potential alternative energy market (AEM) scenarios of a future energy system.
This project has received funding from the government’s £1 billion Net Zero Innovation Portfolio, which provides funding for low-carbon technologies and systems.
Phase One of the project has just started and is a six-month feasibility study which includes looking at how lower-income households could participate in such schemes.
As part of government ECO schemes, EDF has previously led the way in delivering insulation to all across the country. It invested £20m in energy efficiency measures for those in fuel poverty, installing over 23,000 energy efficient measures for struggling households last year.
EDF has an average 21,000 actively taking part in its demand flex scheme, which encourages customers to cut their electricity use at peak times when energy supplies are low.
Stuart Fenner, Director of WMS Commercial from EDF Customers, said, “Reducing both our and our customer’s environmental impact aligns with our purpose of Helping Britain achieve net Zero, and with OFGEM’s price cap due to remain higher than pre-energy crisis levels we are doing all we can to reduce customer bills.
“With a recent flexibility study carried out by National Grid finding that active households responding to price signals could help reduce peak energy demand by 23%, this project will be key in helping both our customers and the environment. And, by combining our energy market, customer supply and Research & Development expertise we are well placed, alongside our partners, to drive change.”
