SSEN has secured £450,000 in funding from Ofgem's Strategic Innovation Fund for a project that aims to accelerate the rollout of heat pumps across its network.

The "EqualLCT" project will utilize network data to identify areas where the deployment of heat pumps can be most effectively coordinated with energy efficiency measures, such as improved insulation. This approach aims to reduce peak electricity demand while maximizing the benefits of heat pumps, which can operate on clean, renewable electricity and be scheduled to use power during off-peak hours.

"EqualLCT leans into this, by combining the technology's inherent strengths with the well-established use of energy efficiency measures as a means of conserving heat in homes," SSEN said.

The project will leverage the technology behind SSEN's award-winning Local Energy Net Zero Accelerator (LENZA) tool, which is already used by local authorities to plan the deployment of low-carbon technologies. By integrating data on housing stock, customer information, and available local schemes, EqualLCT will provide a more comprehensive understanding of the most suitable locations for heat pump installation.

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This initiative demonstrates SSEN's commitment to supporting the transition to a low-carbon energy future and finding innovative solutions to accelerate the adoption of sustainable technologies.

Ross Bibby, who is the Project Manager for EqualLCT at SSEN Distribution said: "At SSEN, we're leading the way in the transition to net zero, but we know an integral part of this journey involves supporting everyone in our communities to make the choices which will benefit our environment. We know there are currently a number of factors preventing some people from adopting new low carbon technologies, and EqualLCT was born out of a desire to remove these barriers.

"We're just setting out on our journey to develop this idea, but we expect that if realised, it could cut customers' bills and defer millions of pounds of network reinforcement.

"The decision by Ofgem's Strategic Innovation Fund to back this new phase of this project means we and our partners from the energy experts Baringa and SMS will be able to establish a proof of concept for this idea. We'd then hope to demonstrate and operate the technology we're developing by the end of 2025."