More than 2,000 EDF customers will be invited to take part in a series of trials aimed at increasing the uptake of low carbon technologies and demand flexibility.
The five trials include two electric vehicle (EV) charging initiatives, one heat pump tariff trial, a flexibility initiative and one solar panel and storage scheme aimed at social housing customers.
The trials have been backed by £1.3 million of funding by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero as part of the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio (NZIP).
Working in partnership with Brighton & Hove City council, a group of EDF customers in social housing properties will have solar panels installed, with an unspecified number provided with a storage solution.
EDF technology will then assess if there is any excess electricity stored and will look to find the best price and sell it back to the grid, with that money passed on to the customer.
The supplier is also running two EV charging initiatives which will include a tariff focused on flexibility, utilising automated controls of EV charging to provide the best value to customers. And an export tariff to see how customers utilise bi-directional charging, which allows the power stored in (EV) batteries to be directed back towards the home and the grid.
A new heat pump tariff will also be tested, providing owners with advice and automation so they can maintain their homes at temperatures which suit them, while saving money and carbon by avoiding high-cost peak hours.
Philippe Commaret, managing director of customers at EDF, said: “It is imperative we continue to look at ways we can save customers cash and carbon and being part of a project which is providing five exciting trials to do just that is incredibly important and exciting.
“Electricity use is set to double by 2050 so it is crucial that we explore new ways we can reduce pressure on the grid and customers’ pockets.
“Trialling new tariffs and assets and giving customers greater control will be vital if we are to achieve our goal of reducing the need for fossil fuels and truly achieve net zero homes.”
EDF recently revealed that so far this winter over 139,000 households had saved 23 tonnes of carbon through its demand flexibility scheme, ‘Beat the Peak’.