As part of a drive to accelerate the transition to net zero, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) Distribution has launched the NIA-funded CLEVER project.

The projects aims to encourage customer-led conversations with distribution network operators (DNOs) about use of low carbon technologies (LCTs), such as electric vehicles and heat pumps.

The electricity network operator delivers a safe, secure and reliable supply of electricity to customers across the north of Scotland and southern England and is a critical enabler of the net zero future. Electricity demand is expected to nearly treble by 2050 and SSEN is investing in flexibility and reinforcement to ensure the network is ready to answer that demand. Visibility of how and when customers want to use the network is vital to ensure accurate and cost-effective investment, but one of the challenges is that small energy assets, such as electric vehicles (EVs) and heat pumps, are not always registered and are therefore not visible to network companies.

The Customer-Led Electric VEhicle Registration (CLEVER) project will facilitate discussion between DNOs and LCT owners, to map what data DNOs need and what data customers are willing and able to provide. CLEVER will explore incentives that could increase visibility of LCTs on the network and what measures could guard against loss of data, for example if a customer moves house, buys a second EV or changes the capacity of a heat pump. The learnings will also explore how to support vulnerable customers.

-- Advertisement --

Better visibility of LCTs on the network will inform when and where DNOs invest to reinforce the network or defer investment in favour of flexibility measures that shift demand. Knowledge of LCTs developed through CLEVER could also support lower reliance on monitoring equipment that DNOs use to improve visibility of their networks. These measures will improve the data available to DNOs, supporting more cost-effective decision making whilst continuing to improve network performance.

Fraser MacIntyre, Project Manager for CLEVER at SSEN said: "We all know that two heads are better than one. With the CLEVER project, we are asking to put our heads together with those customers who have already made the switch to an EV or installed a heat pump, so we can test their appetite to share data about when and where they use our network. Taking a customer-led approach recognises that good data sharing is dependent on cooperation and transparency.

"Better visibility of new technologies will put SSEN in the best possible position to support the widespread roll-out of LCTs to all customers, ensuring no person or community is excluded from the net zero transition. We hope this project will deliver CLEVER outcomes that benefit everybody."

The CLEVER project complements work by the UK Government which recently launched the Automatic Asset Registration (AAR) Programme, which is offering funding for solutions to replace the manual registration of small-scale demand, generation and storage assets.

SSEN is delighted to be working with ElectraLink, Gen Game and Accent MR on delivery of the CLEVER project, which has received NIA funding of £159,800 and will report in Autumn 2022.