ETI seeks partners to develop a new Home Energy Management System

The Energy Technologies Institute (“ETI”) is seeking partners to assist in the development of a new Home Energy Management System (HEMS) and has today launched two Requests for Proposals to help it advance and evaluate through a field trial a HEMS prototype that is capable of addressing future consumer energy management needs in domestic housing out to 2030 and beyond.

As part of its Smart Systems and Heat programme the ETI has identified home energy management as a key component of any future smart energy system that enables the delivery of added value and cost-effective consumer solutions together with the ability to improve supply side asset utilisation. The insight gained from the deployment of this HEMS prototype will help inform energy service providers of the requirements of consumers and the potential for new value-add services.

The ETI is launching two contracts through which a consumer focused HEMS solution will be developed, tested and evaluated.

The Prototype HEMS Development Contract aims to develop and test an advanced consumer centric HEMS prototype focused on the customer experience that will work in future smart energy systems.  In the first instance it will be designed to control conventional heating systems, with the heat source being a gas central heating boiler, but have the flexibility to enable other heating system types to be controlled later. ETI has to date developed a series of HEMS concepts that it will work on with the contracted parties as part of the development process. The prototype will be deployed in circa 300 domestic properties of mixed archetypes and consumer segments commencing in 2015.

The Prototype HEMS Field Trial Contract will work in collaboration with the Prototype HEMS Development Contract. It will provide field trial services that will enable the evaluation of the HEMS prototype.