Energy Users: Regional Customer Archetypes (EUReCA)

Completed

Other Cross-Cutting Technologies or Research(Demographics)

Applied Research and Development

SOCIAL SCIENCES (Sociology)

Not Cross-cutting

Project Contact
Northern Powergrid

Network Innovation Allowance

Ofgem

01 May 2024

31 August 2024

ENA months

£100,000

Power

Yorkshire & Humberside

Project Contact, Northern Powergrid

Project Contact, Northern Powergrid (Northeast) Limited
Project Contact, Northern Powergrid (Yorkshire) plc

Using Northern Powergrid as a "proof of concept" case study for how a DNO can bring the consumer building blocks into DFES, we propose a flexibility focused initial research project for regionalising the non-domestic archetypes which takes as input the flexibility services available to local organisations. For the domestic archetypes a methodology would be developed for calculating varying purchasing power due to the relative cost of living across the country and incorporating this this data into the disaggregation of LCT uptake trends within the region. The project will deliver:Regional non-domestic and domestic archetypes, in a format similar to that presented by National Grid in their recent project.An impact assessment of both sets of archetypes, showing the level of variation between different regions which has been identified by the research.Methodology for potential future use cases.A report detailing the methodology followed, a summary of results and their impact.The key variables of importance are:For non-domestic archetypes, differences in the distribution of behavioural groups between the national dataset and the regionally specific data (ie rural/urban archetypes)For domestic archetypes, the range and distribution of purchasing power seen across archetype groups in different parts of the country. The project will aim to:Add regional granularity to the behavioural characteristics describing each archetype"s interaction with and use of clean technologies and flexible demand.Demonstrate any materiality of regional variations when considering engagement with and adoption of clean technologies and flexibility.Build upon an existing framework, to promote commonality in the approaches taken to technology uptake and network load forecasting across the UK"s networks.Provide NPg and other networks with the tools to better understand and assist their customer bases and their engagement with decarbonisation and the energy system.

National Grid recently developed Consumer Building Blocks under NIA2_NGESO026 in conjunction with ERM (Element Energy), leading to publication at LSOA-level of domestic and non-domestic archetypes. These offer opportunities to DNOs to bring greater commonality across the transmission and distribution load models and to incorporate modelling improvements related to domestic and non-domestic responses to flexibility, efficiency, and LCTs. However, to adapt the non-domestic archetypes for DNO use requires incorporation of DNO specific services and considerations, and of the constraints faced by businesses in rural and urban settings. Work is also needed to develop methodologies that add regionality into the domestic archetypes by considering (for example) disposable household incomes, as the NG archetypes include uncontextualised data on household incomes.

02/10/24