If the UK is to meet its climate change commitments then much more of our energy must come from renewable sources like wind and solar power.
To support this transition the electricity network must be modernised so that it can become more ‘flexible’. This means it will be able to respond to highs and lows of energy generation (because levels of wind and sun are changeable), as well as peaks and troughs in customer demand.
To make this a reality, UK based solar battery company Moixa is working alongside UK Power Networks, the Distribution Network Operator for the Southeast of England, on a pioneering initiative taking place in the Worthing area.
Homeowners who have solar panels can play an active role in supporting their local grid by installing a Smart Battery and becoming members of the ‘GridShare’ community (households who do not have solar panels but would like to have them installed can also take part).
As a GridShare Member, households will effectively connect their battery to other batteries in the Worthing area to create a ‘Virtual Power Plant’. This will provide ‘flexibility services’ on behalf of the local electricity grid, absorbing excess renewable energy when it is plentiful and releasing it when it is scarce.
By installing solar and storage technologies customers can not only reduce their carbon footprint, but also directly benefit from reduced electricity costs through solar energy and time-of-use optimisation. They are also given access to the Moixa Dashboard, which allows them to view their home energy usage, see solar predictions and track battery behaviour.
Moixa delivered a similar project in the North of England in 2017, installing 40 smart batteries in 40 households in Barnsley and connecting them to the grid via GridShare software. Over the last year, Moixa has delivered grid flexibility services from their aggregated battery fleet to Western Power Distribution network in Oxfordshire and is currently working with UKPN on a similar contract in the Lewes area.
They are now hoping to repeat this success in Worthing, taking the first steps towards a modern electricity network for the South East that is powered by 100% renewable energy.
To help them engage with the local community, Moixa have reached out to Brighton & Hove Energy Services Co-op (BHESCo) and Transition Town Worthing for their help with the campaign.
For more information and to check your eligibility please visit https://go.moixa.com/bhesco.
1 Comment
Watertight Worthing Roofing · 10/03/2022 at 14:50
Good to hear Worthing homeowners owners getting involed. It’s a great scheme and definitely worth doing