Green Gown Awards 2014 - Technical Innovation for Sustainability - University of East Anglia - HC

Building a demand-side power station

The University of East Anglia (UEA) is helping to build a demand-side power station, turning energy-intensive equipment across its campus into smart devices which can automatically adjust their energy demand to meet available supply without impacting their performance.

Working with Open Energi, UEA has equipped air handling units (AHUs) across its estate with Dynamic Demand, a unique solution which can rapidly adjust the AHUs energy consumption to help National Grid balance electricity supply and demand on a second-by-second basis.

The technology should earn UEA in excess of £60,000 over the next three years which will be invested in future sustainability projects. In the process it is helping to “keep the lights on” across the UK and cut carbon emissions from power stations.

UEA is the first university to install Dynamic Demand, boosting its credentials as one of the most sustainable universities in the country.

Top 3 learnings

1 You can earn money by helping National Grid, the country, and the environment and get improved information on your equipment
2 Ensure you understand your systems and are clear what this technology is suitable for and what it isn’t
3 Ensure you have a close relationship with the provider and have ultimate control to disable Dynamic Demand if necessary.

What the judges say ...

An interesting application of technology into the HE sector, where the complexity of power demands across a campus can be used to balance the power system. Clear applicability to other areas, and replicable elsewhere. The “invisibility” of the technological fix is also attractive. The judges recommended another application where data on use and savings is available.

What it means to win ...

“UEA has a top-rated School of Environmental Sciences and we are committed to replicating this success in the sustainability of our campus. Adopting more intelligent ways of managing our electricity demand supports this goal and we are thrilled to win a Green Gown award for our work with Open Energi.“

Professor Edward Acton, Vice-Chancellor

Videos

• Building a demand-side power station (click to hide)