go to top scroll for more

Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number	NIA_UKPN0075
Title	Empower
Status	Completed
Energy Categories	Other Cross-Cutting Technologies or Research(Demographics) 70%; Other Power and Storage Technologies(Electricity transmission and distribution) 30%;
Research Types	Applied Research and Development 100%
Science and Technology Fields	ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Electrical and Electronic Engineering) 100%
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation	Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Consumer attitudes and behaviour) 100%
Principal Investigator	Project Contact No email address given Eastern Power Networks plc
Award Type	Network Innovation Allowance
Funding Source	Ofgem
Start Date	01 September 2021
End Date	28 February 2023
Duration	ENA months
Total Grant Value	£520,000
Industrial Sectors	Power
Region	London
Programme	Network Innovation Allowance
Investigators	Principal Investigator	Project Contact , Eastern Power Networks plc (99.998%)
	Other Investigator	Project Contact , South Eastern Power Networks plc (0.001%) Project Contact , UKPN London Power Networks plc (0.001%)
	Industrial Collaborator	Project Contact , UK Power Networks (0.000%)
Web Site	https://smarter.energynetworks.org/projects/NIA_UKPN0075
Objectives	This project draws on Energy System Catapults (ESC) existing deep understanding of fuel poverty, combining this with the best data available, including utilising Data Communication Companys (DCC) Smart Meter System data, linking this with other data sources, and applying the latest Artificial Intelligence (AI) & data science techniques by UrbanTide (UT) to identify households at risk of fuel poverty. The project will consume anonymised DCC data via a data sharing agreement between DCC and UT. UK Power Networks and ESC will only receive aggregated outputs from UT throughout the project.  The project will draw on findings and research undertaken by UT as part of the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) Modernising Energy Data Applications Phase 1 competition including ensuring ethical data access from DCCs data. DCC will provide the System Meta Data sharing processes and the compliance and government management around releasing that same data. DCCs internal analytics team and domain experts will also peer review and provide feedback on the AI outputs to ensure the results are accurate and meaningful and improve the quality of results. The outlined work programme will define, develop and co-create a new software tool, and embed the final solution into business processes, ensuring that UK Power Networks can be confident it will deliver against requirements. The project seeks to accelerate the identification process and develop a broader impact assessment framework of suitable interventions.  Identifying and supporting more customers in vulnerable circumstances will provide UK Power Networks an opportunity to promote energy efficiency as a way to reduce energy bills. Uptake of energy efficiency has a direct positive impact on the network from decrease in load and consequent deferral of network reinforcement. In addition, a new commercial arrangement with Urban Tide will enable UK Power Networks to use the most up to date data on fuel poverty, allowing UK Power Networks to manage a changing landscape and provide effective support. This project seeks to, for the first time, combine UK-wide smart meter system data with cross-sector data to identify at street level fuel poverty risk levels. The scope is in the work packages as follows: WP1 – Project Management (running throughout project)WP2 - User requirements and data discoveryWP2.1 – Define RequirementsWP2.2 – Data DiscoveryWP3 – Design and development of a software toolWP3.1 – Co-creationWP3.2 – Data ScienceWP4 - Iterative testing and development of software toolWP4.1 – Does it help themWP4.2 – Does it find themWP5 – Embed software WP5.1 – Share FindingsWP5.2 – Scale-up and embedThe project will draw upon the expertise of UrbanTide (artificial intelligence), Energy Systems Catapult (fuel poverty) and Data Communications Company (existing smart meter data). The project objectives are to:1. Use data to efficiently find consumers at risk of fuel poverty; and 2. Understand and develop more effective support packages that meet consumer needs.The expected outcome is to develop a software tool that will provide wider social value beyond electricity through supporting customers in fuel poverty and ensuring no one is left behind in the energy transition. This will be done by developing a street level accurate identification of vulnerable customers in our area, and identifying levels and mechanisms of support that could be offered to them. The project will create asoftware tool that uses cross-sector data, artificial intelligence and consumer research to meet the above objectives of the project through testing and implementation. The tool will be usable by UK Power Networks by incorporating into BAU and will be available to other DNOs through a software-as-a-service model (in particular to use UrbanTides uSmart AI platform to access, store and process real time data).
Abstract	Historically the DNOs role and interaction with customers was mostly led by the need to manage and respond to outages. As we transition to a DSO and customers choose to interact with the network for other services, it is important to reconfigure our services to address the needs of all our customers. It is fundamental for network services to be inclusive and fair, to make sure that no one is left behind as we transition to a net zero future. The increased uptake of low carbon technologies (LCT) integrated into our network may result in higher network costs with the distributional effects of this not being fully understood. Present cost structures of connections and DUoS charges might not be equitable for those who find it difficult to access new LCTs, exacerbating the issues faced by vulnerable customers. There is a need to increase our understanding of customer vulnerability in a world that is transitioning to net zero.
Publications	(none)
Final Report	(none)
Added to Database	19/10/22