Policy Changes Driving Electricity Requirements Higher

Policy changes pushing for electrically sourced heating and electrical vehicles are increasing electrical demand, however, there are ways to limit this increase.

The cost of providing an electrical connection to a new development can vary significantly. It depends on the size and location of the development, the local electrical infrastructure, and the capacity requirements. The first three are predetermined. In contrast, there is often value in reviewing and optimising capacity requirements.

This can be addressed by:

• Designing in energy efficiency by specifying high levels of insulation, using energy efficient equipment, and using building energy management system (BEMS) and making sure the load calculations take account of these. These are examples of Demand Side Management (DSM);
• Ensuring appropriate diversity factors are used;
• Have discussions with the electrical district network operator (DNO) to determine if smart controls (in Energy Centre and/or homes) can be installed to turn off, turn down or delay the use of electrical equipment or appliances when called upon to do so by the network. This is an example of Demand Side Response (DSR);
• Consider providing thermal storage for heat pump led heat networks to reduce required heat pump capacity below the peak heat demand.

With accurate calculation of demands and application of some of the above measures, the uplift in the electrical demands of new sites should not be as high as often thought.