Flexitricity has developed an automated service that helps manufacturers and other industry increase demand when wind farm output is at its greatest.
The system, known as Footroom, is used when renewable sources are producing more than the system can cope with.
The service works by sending a signal to connected businesses, notifying them of an approaching increase in wind and the opportunity to increase demand.
Those who do respond receive a payment in addition to the extra electricity.
The system has been adopted by National Grid as Demand Turn-Up, under a draft service agreement released today.
Flexitricity chief strategy officer Alastair Martin said: “Footroom, or demand turn-up, offers tremendous potential to the UK – not only does it put the country at the very forefront of developing and implementing the Grid of tomorrow, but it opens up a world of possibilities for business and for renewables developers.
“Currently, when the wind is at its strongest, the grid turns large power stations down or off. But it can’t turn down all of them, so sometimes it has to turn off some of the wind farms. This wastes a free resource.
“With Footroom, businesses can boost productivity for minimal extra cost and are incentivised to do so. In turn, the Grid can increase the amount of electricity distributed to homes from clean, renewable energy sources.”
Image: Footroom sends a signal when wind capacity is expected to increase (sxc)
