TALKING HEADS/DAVE ROBERTS


Embracing the digital to energise a greener tomorrow


An energy efficient property doesn’t stop with hardware. To unlock a greener future, an integrated digital approach is essential, says Dave Roberts.


E


nergy used to be a simple game. Energy companies would provide customers with x-amount of kilowatt hours of


electricity and bill them accordingly. Today, however, the billpayer is more empowered. Billpayers with the right blend of technology can choose when they buy (and sell) energy – taking advantage of competitive rates. They can track their consumption by the minute. They can divert power around their home and reduce – or even remove – their reliance on the grid. And digitisation of services helps


make that possible. As our lives and homes are increasingly managed through screens, energy as a service or ‘EaaS’ is proving foundational to the green revolution. In a nutshell, EaaS refers to energy-related services that customers can use to become more energy efficient. EaaS has been growing for more than a decade. Take smart meters as an example – a service that billpayers can use to more accurately monitor their energy usage. In 2022, the number of smart meters reached more than 1 billion worldwide. That represents a 10-fold increase since 2010. Or, to focus on Great Britain, the number of smart and advanced meters in homes and small businesses hit 32.4 million at the end of March 2023. This kind of appetite for energy management through digital services is growing. Collecting meter readings and other data, managing devices, tracking energy usage – all these formerly manual tasks can now be achieved through a single, user- friendly screen. Put simply, EaaS has changed the


game. And in the process, it’s making for a more sustainable UK grid – allowing energy companies to adjust voltage supply based on usage.


Energy generation and storage Increasing numbers of households have woken up to the benefits of generating their own energy. For many, this will be via solar, though hydro and wind are also options. In fact, the latest estimates suggest there are around 1.3 million UK homes with solar panels. Next comes energy storage. Without a battery to store it, much of that


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connected electrical appliances, through to their EV and more. All of this control and information


is accessible through a single screen, and made possible through the smart integration of data across various systems. Perhaps even more importantly, though, access to this data empowers ongoing optimisation. The billpayer can see where energy is being wasted and make changes accordingly. They can see in real-time how much energy they’re drawing from the grid, from renewables and from their battery. Ultimately, then, it is through the


combination of physical and digital that the billpayer can drive efficiencies and claim their energy independence.


Monetising energy via digital services EaaS isn’t just invaluable for saving money. From a bigger-picture perspective, it can also make the customer money. Those with renewables and a


storage battery, for example, can support the grid by exporting their energy during peak demand. Since January 2020, in fact, the UK government has enabled the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) that allows participants to be paid per kilowatt- hour for energy sold. Or take the National Grid Demand


generated renewable energy would go to waste. Plus, as well as the free energy from renewables, a storage battery also allows the billpayer to take advantage of off-peak tariffs. They can store energy when the cheapest, cleanest energy is flowing through the wires, and then discharge it during peak windows. Beyond the obvious solar and storage


technologies, you have kit such as air source heat pumps to provide low- carbon heating. You have home EV chargers. Smart plugs. Smart boilers. In short, you have a whole ecosystem of smart hardware that makes low-cost, low-carbon energy achievable. So, where does the digital come into all of this?


Combining the physical with the digital It is only when combined that physical energy technology and data / software create optimum efficiency. As we’ve seen, physical energy


technologies are on the rise. But today’s billpayer also has unprecedented access to – and management of – their energy data. Take a classic solar and storage


It is through the combination of physical and digital tech that the billpayer can drive efficiencies


example. We’re not just looking at ‘dumb’ hardware. The billpayer’s energy storage system can take advantage of solar forecasting and real-time weather integration to plan future energy usage. In-built algorithms also enable intelligent charging and discharging that automatically takes advantage of cheap rates from smart tariffs. Meanwhile, the billpayer can set schedules to configure their energy usage around their lifestyle. They can track everything from grid imports and exports, through to smart-plug


Flexibility Service, that pays customers who can export excess energy back to the grid. In fact, in a recent session, GivEnergy’s own window into the DFS saw customers earn £20,000 and sell 9.1mWh to the grid – enough to power an EV for 32,760 miles. Such tangible wins are perhaps the


clearest indication yet of how access to smart digital energy services can incentivise billpayers to go green.


A catalyst for effi ciency You’d be forgiven for initially thinking of large, universally recognisable things like solar panels and wind turbines when you think of green tech. But don’t forget the role of digital services. Smart meters, energy monitoring


software, smart tariffs, and the IoT- connected smart home all have a crucial role to play in powering our lives cheaply and cleanly. With the ability to monitor, analyse, and optimise their energy usage, the billpayer can unlock substantial savings and environmental benefits. Simply put, digital software is proving a catalyst for energy efficiency and improved ROI. ■


Dave Roberts UK MD at GivEnergy


EIBI | MARCH 2024


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