RLtec and npower to trial Dynamic Demand technology

RLtec is gearing up for the trial of Dynamic Demand, a new technology that helps maintain the balance between supply and demand across the national electricity grid, in homes across the UK.

The company is working with npower to trial the same.

The trial is the first Demonstration Action to be approved by Ofgem under the CERT (Carbon Emissions Reduction Target) legislation and will contribute towards npower's carbon reduction obligations.

RLtec's technology will be trialled in a number of stages. In the first phase, 300 fridges fitted with this technology will be distributed to consumers so that analysis of how the technology works in appliances in everyday use can be carried out. Following the initial rollout, a total of 3,000 fridges and freezers of different types and models will be deployed so that the carbon savings from Dynamic Demand can be assessed and calculated against a full range of variables.

According to RLtec, appliances fitted with the Dynamic Demand technology automatically modifies power consumption in response to second‐by‐second changes in the balance between supply and demand on the grid ‐ without affecting the fridge's performance. This means that the amount of carbon emitting generating capacity used to maintain that balance can be dramatically reduced.

"The technology has the potential to create a 'virtual' power station and if widely used in the UK could eliminate the need for these carbon emitting balancing stations and save 2,000,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year," said RLtec's Andrew Howe.

"Our analysis shows that more than two‐thirds of the UK's balancing capacity comes from carbon emitting sources. Dynamic Demand helps reduce that carbon‐intensive balancing requirement, with no loss of performance from the appliances in which it is fitted, and with no action needed on the part of the consumer," said Howe.