Modernising Energy Efficiency through Digitalisation - Webinar 4: Lightbulbs or Cables? The role of digital energy efficiency in managing electricity networks

Due to technical difficulties this webinar has been cancelled. Stay tuned on this page for future updates

Introduction

Energy efficiency is changing, with new digital technologies enabling greater control, optimisation and analytics. New policies and new business models will greatly enhance end-use and systems efficiency.

A topic of fast-growing interest to member countries and partners, the IEA has embarked on a cross-agency initiative – Modernising Energy Efficiency through Digitalisation – to explore the potential impacts of digitalisation on energy efficiency and the implications for policy makers. We are developing an analytic framework for assessing impacts and undertaking deep dive research on key topics.

We have also built a resource library on the global exchange for energy efficiency, and organised a series of thematic events to facilitate stakeholder engagement and exchange of best practices.

This webinar is the fourth in a series on the topic of digitalisation and energy efficiency. The first webinar featured guest speaker David Nemtzow from the US Department of Energy Building Technologies Office presenting on the Grid-interactive Efficient Buildings Program, and the second webinar was presented by DENEFF (the German Business Initiative for Energy Efficiency) and focused on the application and impact of digital technologies on industrial energy efficiency. The third webinar was presented by EDNA (the Electronic Devices and Networks Annex) of the IEA’s TCP (Technology Collaboration Programme) on 4E (Energy Efficient End-Use Equipment) and covered the role of connected devices in intelligent efficiency.

Lightbulbs or Cables? The role of digital energy efficiency in managing electricity networks

Over the past 5 years, the UK government has invested £10 million in a project to assess the benefits digital energy efficiency can play in managing networks within future electricity markets. The Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN), the Distribution Network Operator (DNO) for central southern England and Northern Scotland, implemented the UK energy sector’s largest field trial, the Solent Achieving Value from Efficiency (SAVE) project. Based on smart monitoring and data analytics across 8,000 households, the project team designed a range of initiatives – including energy efficiency, price signals, behaviour interventions, and community coaching – to encourage peak demand reductions. This webinar will present an overview of the design of the field trial, as well as the results and value case to the UK government, DNOs and consumers. In addition, the webinar will discuss how SSEN is building on the learning from the SAVE trial to rollout similar projects across its service area.

Speakers

Charlie Edwards has been responsible for the SAVE project for two years. With six years’ experience in demand response being developed through five years’ experience within SSEN’s innovation department, he has delivered the SAVE project to maximise industry learning.