The residential consumer role in the energy system is changing. It is not unusual for a modern home to include multiple smart appliances, smart metering, electric vehicles and solar panels. Home battery technologies are also maturing rapidly. All internet-connected, these things provide an opportunity for in-home optimisation of energy, by avoiding or deferring its use unless it’s absolutely necessary and/or the price is right. Selling any excess energy generated or stored can also reap financial rewards.

Financially incentivising consumers to move their energy use away from periods of peak demand or grid congestion can help avoid or delay expensive cable upgrades which have long lead times and ultimately push up prices. Aggregating the flexilibility offered by lots of consumers is necessary to bring enough together to solve grid problems but who does this and how do we keep it fair? And how do the physical and financial transactions happen? USEF addresses these problems. It delivers a flexibility market design which optimises the use of flexibility in the the system and rewards all participants. It is already being implemented across Europe to accelerate and futureproof smart energy projects by ensuring they are scalable and interconnectable.