The OneApp Funded PhD will be undertaken in partnership with Barratt Developments and is funded through the Friends of Energy House Labs outreach fund. The traditional model of energy consumption in the domestic setting is changing. Many homes can be thought of as consumption “nodes”, homes at the end of the gas and electricity transmission systems that consume and pay for energy on demand. A number of developments have changed this view, as homes are developing the potential to store, generate and consume, as well as there being a capacity for trading and demand side response (DSR). Some of the key changes are as follows:
· Electrification of heat and transport.
· Development of and innovation around the smart meter infrastructure.
· Storage capacity in domestic batteries and electric vehicles, using vehicle to grid (V2G) and vehicle to home (V2H) capability.
· Increased take up of solar panels.
· Variable pricing of electricity, and Time of Use Tariffs such as the Octopus Agile Tariff.
· Demand for network services from DSOs to better manage the capacity of the grid.
These issues create a large number of variables for the user to manage in order to co-ordinate, control and optimise their domestic energy systems. The implementation of systems creates a complex decision-making environment for users to understand how this system, with its increased complexity, can deliver utility to consumers. A good example of the complexity of this system is the Zed House, where multiple apps are required to manage different elements within the home. The aim of the proposed PhD study is: What are the issues that will need to be addressed to provide maximum utility to occupants of homes with smart domestic energy system? The objectives of the study are as follows:
· Create a model of the smart domestic energy system, within a typical Future Homes Standard home and identify the key issues for an occupant.
· Develop a framework for control, coordination, optimisation, and insights for the consumers.
· Identify the potential gaps and added value within the current systems to allow benefits for consumers.
· Using prototyping, engage with occupants to understand where the identified value is for different aspects of decision making and insights about and from the domestic smart energy system is.
The potential student for this work would be focused on IT, with a core focus on data and usability. They would be able access data and utilise the Smart Meters, Smart Homes Lab, Zed House, and Energy House 2.0. They will also be able to use these properties as a test bed for engaging with occupants. The research would also link with existing industrial partners such as Smart DCC, energy companies and providers or equipment and services in this space.
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