What exactly does Demand Side Response do? So what kind of a response is needed? We think you may have an idea by now. Smart technology is the only way to understand what’s happening on the grid at any given moment, and then dynamically respond, to keep the lights on. With so many complex changes happening across the energy market – such as mass electrification and renewable power – it’s essential to manage and monitor the system digitally. It also means that if there’s a problem, there isn’t a domino effect across the whole system – like in August 2019, when large swathes of the UK suffered a blackout 3. By generating and using energy at a more local level, we can save money on massive infrastructure upgrades that cost billions of pounds. Instead, generation is spread out across lots of smaller generators that feed nearby homes and businesses. A handful of large power plants chug away, to generate all the nation’s electricity and send it out across the grid to our homes.ĭecentralisation refers to the move away from this traditional system. Traditionally, energy supply has been centralised and linear. This means a potential dropping away from that all-important 50Hz frequency – making a shortfall, or excess of energy more likely. So although we’re making tremendous progress in reducing carbon emissions, it can cause problems with the balance of supply and demand. The sun doesn’t always shine, and the wind doesn’t always blow. We’ve been breaking records on this front in the last couple of years, but there are still challenges to overcome.ĭespite being greener and cleaner, renewable energies aren’t as easily predictable, due to the nature of.well.Nature. So to create less carbon, we need to use renewable energy sources like solar, wind, hydro and geothermal to generate energy instead. What is decarbonisation?įossil fuels release carbon dioxide – and too much of that causes global warming and climate change. The 3 D’s are the foundation of an advanced, stable, and sustainable grid that can support the shift away from fossil fuels. So how do we manage this massive surge in demand, while cutting fossil fuel supply? The 3 D’s: Decarbonisation, Decentralisation, Digitisation In fact, predictions suggest there’ll be 11 million electric cars on our roads by then! And it’s estimated that by 2050, we’re going to need almost double the amount of electricity we use now 2. The British government recently made a crucial step, by banning the sale of petrol and diesel cars beyond 2030. A key way of reducing these emissions is to electrify the system, use more renewable energy, and burn fewer fossil fuels. How does our energy system need to change, to fight the climate crisis?Ģ major contributors of carbon emissions are heating and transport.
To find out more about the National Grid, read our guide – which explains how to know when the grid is greenest, and how smart technology can help to deliver more sustainable and affordable energy. But as we’re aiming to cut out fossil fuels altogether, we need a new approach. In the past, fossil fuels gave a steady, predictable supply of power – as they could be burned on demand. Any diversion that shifts +/- 1% from this level could cause serious damage, and blackouts across the country. The National Grid needs to keep a synchronised, steady 50Hz across all connected systems. That’s because the grid does a pretty good job of maintaining the balance between our electricity supply and demand – and keeping the frequency of the grid at its optimum 50Hz 1. How does the National Grid work?įortunately in the UK, blackouts don’t happen that often. To really get to grips with DSR, let’s look first at how our energy system works, and how we’d like it to work in the near future. This way, we don’t have to resort to burning fossil fuels to make up for the shortfall. And that’s when DSR can be really useful – triggering devices like electric car batteries or home storage batteries to export some of their stored energy back to the grid. So for example, when the nation’s glued to the Masterchef final, there’s a huge demand for electricity. It’s a way of shifting demand to help balance the grid – by softening peaks, and filling troughs when there’s a surge or shortfall of energy. What is Demand Side Response?ĭSR is all about intelligent energy use. These changes mean a huge shift in how energy is generated, used and redistributed. In this article we’ll be taking a closer look at how the UK’s energy system is changing, as we move away from fossil fuels and generate more of our electricity through renewables. Doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, does it? Yet it’s a valuable tool in the UK’s transition to a zero carbon energy system.