Energy Systems Catapult UK
The challenge
The United Kingdom faces the dual challenge of reducing carbon emissions by 78% by 2035 while accommodating a projected 40% increase in electricity demand. Meeting these targets necessitates substantial investments in renewable generation, network infrastructure, and innovative technologies like energy storage, carbon capture, and hydrogen. However, systemic barriers hinder progress, requiring the energy sector to open new markets and overcome obstacles to deliver the necessary innovations.
The response
In response, the UK established the Living Labs program, a national facility where industry, government, and academia collaborate to test and demonstrate new technologies, services, and business models under simulated in-market conditions.
This program facilitates real-world trials with actual consumers, enabling the confident deployment of innovations at the scale and pace required to achieve Net Zero ambitions. With a focus on digital integration, the Living Lab connects diverse households and technologies, allowing for the testing of emerging solutions alongside mainstream technologies like smart meters and IoT devices.
The Living Lab has a variety of tenures (owners, renters, etc), property types and family demographics. Homes are connected by a digital integration platform, ensuring the Living Lab is digitally open, interoperable and scalable. This allows innovations to be tested in real-world conditions.
Energy data is captured from homes via mainstream smart meters, smart heating controls, battery storage, solar PV, electric vehicles and chargers, heat meters and more. They can also flex the operation of electric vehicle charging and heating systems, to test how these might be used in future energy systems. All these technologies are linked via their Digital Integration Platform.
The results
Energy Systems Catapult’s Living Lab encompasses a diverse range of property types across the UK, with digitally connected homes in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Over 3,000 households have volunteered to participate in the Living Lab program, contributing to the development of clean technology innovations aimed at helping 28 million homes in the UK reach Net Zero emissions.
Since 2019, Energy Systems Catapult has helped thousands (???) of innovators ensure their products and services are market ready. Evidence from their trials has informed innovators about the commercial viability of their products and helped them unlock more funding to grow their businesses to the next stage.
Recently, the Living Lab integrated the WESA facility – a partnership with PNDC at the University of Strathclyde – into its platform. This is helping energy networks predict future energy demand from increased electrification, so they can understand needs for network reinforcement and load management measures.
Demand for trials and data services continues to increase.