By Kari Williamson

The aim is to alleviate transmission and distribution bottlenecks as the peak demand for energy grows. The smart grid project could also help building operators decrease their energy use.

As part of the £30-million New Thames Valley Vision (NTVV) project recently awarded to Scottish and Southern Energy Power Distribution (SSEPD) by UK energy regulator Ofgem, Honeywell will install automated demand response (Auto DR) technology in the selected facilities.

The utility will then work with the customers to trim peak electricity use, and reduce strain on the local networks and substations, which are nearing capacity.

The smart grid project builds on the Auto DR demonstration in Bracknell, England, where Honeywell showed that a commercial building could quickly shed up to 45% of its electrical load during peak hours.

Honeywell expects the full-scale project will give the utility the ability to shave approximately 10 MW of energy use when necessary.

“A smarter grid is essential to balancing supply and demand in the most efficient, sustainable way possible,” says Paul Orzeske, president of Honeywell Building Solutions.

“But utilities also need to connect with their customers in new ways and Auto DR creates those bonds. It’s flexible enough to meet a variety of energy challenges, from daily grid congestion issues to intermittency concerns that stem from micro-generation.”