UK Announces Plans for Smart Grid, to Require Smart Meters in all Homes by 2020
The U.K. pictured with an energy grid in outline. (image: nationalgrid.com)
The United Kingdom will switch to a national smart grid, Reuters reported on Wednesday. This marks the first time that the British government has discussed implementing a smart grid.
Smart energy meters in every home and a smart grid are integral to Britain reaching its carbon emission targets, the government said. This smart energy system should pave the way to a low carbon future for the UK, one which includes large wind farms, more efficient heating systems, and electric cars.
Energy minister Lord Hunt told Reuters that, “Smart grids will help manage the massive shift to low carbon electricity such as wind, nuclear, and clean fossil fuels.”
The Department of Energy and Climate Change estimates that it will cost about 8.6 billion pounds ($14.25 billion) to replace the country’s 47 million meters with smart meters by 2020. It plans to publish a detailed smart grid route map early next year.
The British government will provide about 6 million pounds to develop smart meter technologies, and energy regulator Ofgem will provide 500 million pounds over the next 5 years for large-scale smart grid trials.
The government called for communications across the national grid to be managed centrally, while maintaining metering competition. In addition, all suppliers would be required to use the central function under license.
Smart meters are considered to be the first step toward implementing a smart grid as they save energy by cutting power to appliances that do not require continuous power, such as laptops that use batteries and washing machines.
According to U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu, a smart grid would allow the U.S. to increase the use of renewable energies, such as wind and solar, from 2.8 percent, as it is in 2009, to 20, 25, or 30 percent.
On October 27, President Obama named 100 utility projects that will share $3.4 billion in federal stimulus funding to hasten implementation of a smart electric grid. One target of this grant money is smart meters, which the Obama administration hopes to distribute on the order of 40 million over the next several years.
Smart Meters Are Coming—Will Savings Follow? | HeatingOil.com says: says:
[...] Britain to distribute smart meters, moving toward fulfillment of the British government’s plan to equip all homes with smart meters by 2020. The meters give consumers an added measure of control over their energy expenses, but by [...]
Matthew Smiths says: says:
Who looks in their utility cupboard every day to see the gas meter and understands how much they have spent? I think Smart Meters are a good idea and can help people. I found a video about Energy Smart Meters which explains the basics. Smart Meters will monitor electricity consumption and help to understanding where to save money and reducing carbon emissions. Simple as that! Why it is not worth spending money?
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