Energy and Clean Growth Minister Claire Perry has today hailed the emergence of new smart technologies and tariffs that are being enabled by the UK’s smart meter roll out, arguing they have the potential to save money and even generate income through electric vehicles and other smart technologies. Perry today visited the Bristol HQ of energy firm OVO Energy, which has invested in a smart meter enabled software platform for managing residential energy use called VCharge and early stage vehicle to grid charging technologies designed to allow electric vehicle (EV) owners to sell power back to the grid at peak times. The company is also amongst a handful of energy suppliers to use smart meters to offer customers time-of-use based tariffs that reward them for charging their EVs at off-peak times. Previous government estimates suggest the roll out of smart energy technologies that better manage supply and demand across the grid could save the UK up to £40bn between now and 2050, by curbing the need for new generation capacity, enhancing efficiency across the system, and slashing carbon emissions. Perry said OVO’s products were an example of how smart meters would provide the “cornerstone” for a new wave of energy technology innovation.
Business Green 16th Aug 2018 read more »
