ongoing

This project aims to identify, develop and deploy technology that will enable smart energy demand response services across different demonstration sites in Ireland

Project Insights

  • €339,475

    Total Project Costs
  • 3 yr

    Project Duration
  • 2019

    Year Funded

Project Description

The ESHER project aims to enable smart services for homes in relation to energy use and guide users in opportunities for demand response actions through the application of integrated visualisation and feedback techniques. The project will collect data from smart meters, appliances and sensors in 20 homes and one small business, and build advanced machine learning algorithms to predict and disaggregate energy use. Fixed and variable loads will then be identified to understand what can be part of demand response actions. Suggestions for demand response actions could be to turn appliances on/off at certain times or switch to a more efficient source of supply to save money. The user will be given guidance via online dashboards that can be accessed by smartphone apps or using a tablet. Different forms of guidance, frequency and incentives will also be tested. Where smart devices are installed, the possibility of automatically carrying out demand response actions will be investigated. Finally, the potential for Time of Use tariffs will also be explored by use of an innovative energy trading business model and the concept of a high street retail market. This will be developed and virtually tested using the data from the demonstration sites to examine the potential for a 2-way dynamic market, enabling home owners to choose which supplier they wish to purchase their energy from at different times of the day. The results from the project will form recommendations for a wider deployment of smart micro grid applications in Ireland.

Project Details

Total Project Cost: €339,475

Funding Agency: SEAI

Year Funded: 2019

Lead Organisation: IES R&D

Partner Organisation(s): Ó Cualann Cohousing Alliance; Technical University Dublin (TU Dublin)

Ruth Kerrigan

Lead Researcher