| Author(s) |
Subtheme Group |
| Abstract |
The smart systems sub-theme report focusses on technologies which provide
flexibility to the electricity and wider energy system. A broad range of technologies are
considered which allow both electricity demand and supply to become more flexible. This
includes technologies which enable high resolution time- and location-based pricing,
technologies which allow supply and demand to react to these price signals, and
technologies which allow conversion between different energy carriers (e.g. electricity to
hydrogen).
Smart systems and flexible infrastructure enable the integration of low-carbon
technologies into the energy system at lower costs compared to the conventional
system. As the electricity and wider energy system becomes more reliant on variable
renewables, infrastructure will be required to ensure supply can always meet demand. Key
smart innovations reduce the need for investments in additional infrastructure by
increasing flexibility of both supply and demand. Benefits of this include reduced need for
expensive flexibility options such as peaking power plants, increasing utilisation of variable
low-carbon generation, and deferred investments in transmission and distribution
networks. Deployment of such innovations depends on overcoming sectoral barriers, such
as coordination requirements across the national and local electricity markets and demand
uncertainty given the immaturity of many technologies. |
| Download |
Energy Innovation Needs Assessment. Sub-theme report on Smart systems (2019)  |
| Year |
2019 |
| Status |
Current |
| Timescale |
No Data Supplied |
| Geographic Coverage |
UK |
| Funder |
BEIS |
| Methods |
Desk research and stakeholder enagagement |
| Stakeholder |
Academic community, industry and government |
| Document Structure |
No Data Supplied |
| Rights |
OGL 3.0 |
|
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