Brownie – the home and community energy little helper that ‘lends a hand’

This collaborative industrial research project builds on the success of community-focussed tools demonstrated in the CEGADS project. Innovative algorithms enable households to benefit from demand-side management on a community basis, balancing and maximising local value from community generation, without the perceived threat of 'central control'. The project addresses the need for a platform which enables and reports changes in electricity consumption patterns at the community level, revolving around local generation. This is quite distinct from the focus on the individual householder. Embracing a wider range of motivations, including community cohesion, social equality, and enhanced use of local renewables, the approach simultaneously addresses security of supply, affordable energy and carbon reduction. The project collaboration will demonstrate a Brownie system: combination of a cloud server with a home unit that ‘lends a hand’ and an energy dashboard. The primary markets are community energy groups and social landlords. The approach opens up wider opportunities at scale, including monitoring the impact of energy efficiency measures, remote monitoring of the distribution network, and support for the vulnerable living independently.