Integrating ICT solutions to best support efficient energy usage

The Problem

Increased energy usage efficiency and energy management is an essential need of our society. The UK Smart Metering Initiative is a fundamental catalyst for energy management systems that can lead to more efficient energy usage. However activities to date have looked at limited applications of Smart Metering – mainly automatic meter reading applications.

By providing two-way communication between the consumer premises and the supplier, it is possible to provide new pricing models and services to even out consumption and thus improve efficiency of electricity production. For example, supply companies could offer varying rates throughout the day, and devices such as washing machines could be switched on at times to take advantage of low cost power. However, there is not at present any clear and standardised two-way interactive communication mechanism between the energy consumer and the supplier.

Approaches to date in the UK indicate that solutions are being driven by a very near-term view of addressing narrow individual single-industry business requirements. This will lead to the development of fragmented ICT platforms and a lost opportunity for integrated and standardised solutions that can support future energy efficiency targets through active closed-loop energy management systems.

Clever aims to devise a solution to close the loop of electricity generation, distribution, retailing, metering and consumption through the direct involvement of residential energy consumers using intelligent meters.

The Research

• To develop an integrated, flexible and future-proof information communication infrastructure, centered around the Intelligent Meter, to support networked business processes from electricity generation to consumption;

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• To develop an interoperable distributed platform for secure micro-transactions to support the required services;

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• To promote international standardisation of the energy management system profile developed in the project; and

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• To develop models of the interactions between the residential consumer and producer of the electricity for increased efficiency and control.