🌆🏙️Trellick Tower CarbonFlex Pilot - a 🧵. How do we innovate inclusively to ensure lower income households can access #netzero benefits? In the UK’s 1st carbon flexing pilot, we managed heating and hot water charging in West London social housing block Trellick Tower⚡️#DSF 1/11

RT @EnergiewendeGER: ⚡ To prevent green backlash, #NetZero policies must translate into lower bills and better services for ‘ordinary’ hous….

RT @boell_eu: 🟢 To prevent green backlash, #NetZero policies must translate into lower bills & better services for households. An inclusive….

References research from @energyunlocked @ember_energy @RegAssistProj @smartEnEU @DNV_Group @EnergySysCat @TimurRDG @mikefsway @sunderlandlouis @CAenergypolicy.

Less pushback ✋more payback 💶💷.My new blog with @EuanGraham9 for @EnergiewendeGER explores how governments can deliver on the EU promise of 'simple, fair and cost effective' implementation of energy/climate commitments - via inclusive household #demandflexibility strategies⚡️.

@energyunlocked & partners are now engaging with energy retailers, local authorities and potential funders to co-design socially inclusive CarbonFlex value propositions and pilot the service design on a much larger scale. Contact us to find out more. 11/11.

The pilot was funded by the @Ofgem @innovateuk Strategic Innovation Fund R3, building on 24/7 CFE London analysis for the Greater London Authority. Partners were @UKPowerNetworks, @rbkc, PeerCo, Connected Response and @energyunlocked. 10/11.Full report

Key Qs for a future Alpha stage:.⚡️What signals (alongside price) can align optimisation for climate/social outcomes with energy market value?.⚡️How do we integrate the building owner needs with grid decarbonisation needs?.⚡️What new services/techs can best deliver these? 9/11

The project did confirm that there remain significant structural barriers to flex markets for low income and vulnerable households and local authority landlords. Accessing retail market value flows are a particular challenge, esp for tenants paying for heat with rent. 8/11

There were no conflicts with local demand flexibility calls. A comparison of the CarbonFlex service signals with DNO system data showed that trial turn-down times were aligned with peak times. This could be valuable to a system operator in a grid-constrained area. 7/11

Tenants gave generally positive feedback, most felt no impact on their heating or hot water services. Tenants and RBKC also noted further benefits such as social cohesion through working as a community. Many were interested in customising the service to specific flat needs. 6/11

15% CO2 savings achieved across 24 flats (10-15% predicted). Annual building-wide estimated savings = £7.5k (UK Green Book). Scaled to the 8k social housing flats in UKPN's area, annual CO2 savings = 10k tonnes, appraised carbon value £2.68m (before energy market savings). 5/11

We engaged with tenants via in person events and written comms. A 📞helpline, onsite support and onboarding/debriefing events were provided. No manual actions were needed to participate. A £50 supermarket voucher was offered as a thank you for feedback after the pilot. 4/11

Why optimise for grid carbon avoidance rather than price? On a local level, price and carbon aren't yet as aligned as they should be. Carbon flexing enables cities to incentivise landlords to upgrade buildings now, rewarding CO2 savings directly (see 3/11.

We used smart controls and a specially designed CarbonFlex methodology to remotely manage electric storage heating and hot water demand in a volunteer sample group of flats. We also compared the CarbonFlex signals with local demand flexibility calls to assess grid impact. 2/11

“Cities are aiming to decarbonise, so let’s measure what we want to manage.” The case for using #flexibility to match London’s building’s demand with low carbon generation. @mollywebb @energyunlocked @_c40cities @LDN_gov #LCAW

CarbonFlex will unpack challenges/opps of clean & inclusive #demandsideflexibility on the ground, building on my 'Flex-ability for all' RAP paper with @sunderlandlouis. Louise and I will continue to work closely with each other and partners on 'fair flex' thought leadership ⚖️.

Stay tuned, and give @energyunlocked a follow, for more detail on our new UK Strategic Innovation Fund 'CarbonFlex' heat and hot water trial, with social landlords and tenants in London, coming soon👀.

A Monday of New Things: .1 Officially started as Director of Policy & Governance @energyunlocked with @mollywebb🙌.2 #ev #smartcharger installed🚘.3 Awesome⚡️earrings from @heatpolicyrich . A huge thank you to friends at @RegAssistProj for your ongoing encouragement and support🤗

Unpacking social, energy system, innovation and environmental co-benefits of energy demand reduction and flexibility with @EDRC_UK @sunderlandlouis “it’s not just the heat pump it’s the building that delivers the value, UK must not fall further behind” 🏡 ⚡️