Funding for the project comes from the government's Technology Strategy Board. It will maximise heating and hot water efficiency through the new smart meter communications network.

It's one of 13 new research and development projects now underway, which aim to show how smart meters can be integrated with communications technology to make homes more energy-efficient, and consumers more energy-aware.

In partnership with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), £3.8 million will be invested in these innovative research and development projects.

Iain Gray, the Technology Strategy Board's Chief Executive, said, "The technology for smart meters – which give us real-time information about how much energy we are using – already exists.  The next step is for these smart meters to form part of smart home systems, where appliances are integrated, giving us much more control over energy usage.

"To make the best use of these technologies, collaboration is required across sectors, bringing network operators together with the telecommunications and ICT infrastructure sectors."

Projects will deploy and test a wide array of interoperable networked systems, demonstrating the many integrated functions offered by smart meter technologies, delivering the integrated suite of services and partnerships needed to assist the development of the UK's Smartgrid programme.

Systems will incorporate energy usage data with microgeneration asset management; demand management of household appliances; examine security and privacy issues; offer integrated tele-healthcare and even financial services.

Examples include:

  • Applied Research into Appliance Level Smart Metering over Broadband – aiming to accelerate the development of a communications system which will allow data from a new, single point, energy monitor – currently under development – to be sent through broadband to a web portal where it could be accessed by the home owner and by the provider.
  • SmartVillage – looking at the relationship between energy efficiency information provided by in-home displays, their user interaction and the resultant management of demand with other systems in the home.
  • Smart Homes Integrating Meters Money & Energy Research (SHIMMER) – an interactive digital platform that integrates smart home energy management and innovative financial and banking services.
  • TAHI3ID@BRE – TAHI Integration, Interoperability, Installation Demonstrator at BRE – aiming to create a Demonstration Centre for Interoperability for systems in the Smart Home and Smart Metering.

Project HAWCS

In Project HAWCS, by setting hot water and heating preferences, either online or through a smart phone, the system will automatically adjust heating or water settings in response to the home’s changing energy requirements.
 
Led by SSE (Scottish and Southern Energy), Project HAWCS will not only enable homeowners to cut the cost of their energy bills, but will also give homeowners greater convenience and higher levels of comfort in the home.
 
Utility companies may also benefit by being able to personalise energy packages to individual homes, thereby in theory improving service levels.
 
Alistair Phillips-Davies, Energy Supply Director at SSE, said: “Up to 75 per cent of a home’s energy consumption is attributed to heating and hot water, so improved control of domestic boilers is paramount to increasing household energy efficiency.
 
“This project will provide homeowners with an economical and convenient way to take control of this cost, simply by using a smart phone or logging on to the internet.”
 
Project HAWCS follows Project Hydra, a £2.3m initiative to develop value-added services through the smart meter network using healthcare as a test bed, led by smart metering provider Onzo and involving eight consortium members including SSE.

Hydra applies technologies from the banking industry within the smart grid, ensuring that data is private and secure.
 
Onzo and SSE will also be joining forces to launch a smart energy kit for the domestic market later this month.

The kit, which consists of an in-home display, sensor and website, provides consumers with information in real time about how much energy they are using, how much it is costing them and also gives recommendations on how to reduce or change their consumption.

> http://onzo.com/press/

> www.scottish-southern.co.uk