IsleAI

This project (IselAI) brings an exciting artificial intelligence dimension to the successful and live data exchange platform (IsleDEX) built under the PFER funded ReFLEX smart local energy system (SLES) demonstrator project.

IsleAI includes the same key players as IsleDEX, namely UrbanTide, Aquatera and EMEC. It will be led by ReFLEX Orkney, the special purpose vehicle set-up under the ReFLEX SLES project. It also brings in two Orkney based development trusts as pilot customers.

The costs and benefits of the "just transition" to net zero must be spread fairly across all incomes so the poorest won't proportionally pay more but they share in the benefits of low-carbon technologies. Rural and island communities are particularly exposed to fuel poverty. Access to data and the latest developments in artificial intelligence will be an important component in the just transition.

It is harder to model the housing stock in rural and island areas than built up urban areas. Alongside higher fuel poverty rural and island areas often have older and less energy efficient housing stock than urban areas too. This adds weight to the need for robust data to help decision making on property upgrades.

IsleAI will help address fuel poverty, reduce power consumption, ensure houses are appropriately heated and support the increasing use of locally produced renewable energy.

IsleAI utilises existing and novel data sources with the latest AI techniques, by leveraging UrbanTide's uZero, an advanced fuel poverty identification tool, which is the only product in the UK which incorporates Smart Meter System Metadata, to advance the identification of at-risk places, support new interventions and monitor impact. It will integrate recently launched thermal imaging Vu satellites with 3m resolution, ideal for measuring localised thermal dynamics at a building level. This includes newly developed façade recognition AI to enrich current energy analysis. This will be linked with other energy data to support the adoption of new technologies at a community level.

IsleAI will provide the new insights to decision-makers in the energy value chain including segmentation of households by postcode to better understand different customer types (can't pay, could pay and would pay), building unique 'Place Profiles' to support more efficient homes and uptake of low carbon technologies.