Smart energy systems are a new development in energy management that offer great potential, particularly for organisations who have a large and diverse estate to manage. Perth and Kinross Council (PKC) wanted to find solutions that made use of innovative technologies and processes to deliver a functional pilot Smart Energy Network which would act as a framework to guide future expansion.

The competition, run by PKC, the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) and the Can Do Innovation Challenge Fund, was split into two phases. After initial selection to produce a feasibility study and outline proposal in phase one, StorTera were one of two teams chosen for the second phase of the project to demonstrate a pilot Smart Energy Network at a working council site.

The pilot Smart Energy Network shows how intelligent control of the batteries using the TRAICON platform can increase utilisation of solar generated on site as well as decreasing energy costs for the Council. The battery systems are directly connected to the site’s EV chargers allowing use of off peak and solar energy to charge the vehicles to reduce costs and carbon emissions. TRAICON also enables smart building loads to be controlled via DSR when excess solar generation is available.

The Friarton site has two separate metering points which has allowed a demonstration of peer-to-peer energy trading by showing how excess generation at one site can be virtually used at another site to enable further energy savings, when future contract conditions permit. Our partners on the project, EDF, PKC’s energy supplier, were able to conduct a detailed feasibility study showing the potential for peer-to-peer trading and provision of grid services using a network of this kind.