Real-world trials of smart energy technologies that help households and businesses better manage electricity use are underway, bringing the UK closer to its Net Zero goal. Resillion, a leading Quality Assurance company, and its consortium partners – the University of Strathclyde’s PNDC, ScottishPower Energy Retail Ltd and QualityLogic Inc – have launched the UK’s first demonstrations of interoperable demand side response (DSR) and energy smart appliances (ESA), which are designed to optimise energy use and enhance grid stability.

The project goes beyond conformance testing of individual devices and applications against standards. It showcases interoperability across ecosystems comprising multiple devices applications, operating in environments representative of real-world conditions, to demonstrate how these technologies work together to optimise energy use and enhance demand management efficiency.

This project has received funding from the UK Government’s £1 billion Net Zero Innovation Portfolio, which looks to accelerate the commercialisation of low-carbon technologies and systems. The project marks a significant milestone towards the UK Government’s ambition to reach Net Zero by 2050.

The demonstrations, which began in August 2024, mark Phase 3 of the wider Interoperable Demand Side Response (IDSR) programme, bring together a range of smart appliances from international suppliers. The devices, all compliant with new standards PAS1878 and PAS1879, are being tested to showcase their ability to seamlessly integrate and contribute to grid stability through advanced energy management.

This initiative is poised to set a new standard in the industry, highlighting the potential for smart devices to transform how energy is managed at the consumer level. Resillion’s aim is to prove the readiness of demand side response system to meet the growing challenges of the modern energy grid.

Bill Chard, Energy Business Manager, Resillion, commented: “Demand Side Response, and Energy Smart Appliances, will be an important part of managing growing overall energy demand as the electrification of heat and transport grows over the coming years. Additionally, these technologies will enable consumers to better manage their energy usage and reduce costs.

“Our DSR demonstration lab is an important step in proving the interoperability between products from a range of manufacturers, within an ecosystem based on a new technology standard. The project will provide data that will indicate how real world deployments will perform, and will inform the ongoing development of technology and policy in the energy sector.”

The consortium is composed of four industry leading and complementary organisations. Resillion leads the project, focusing on the development of demonstration schemes and process, and assurance that project outcomes meet key stakeholder expectations.

One of the University of Strathclyde’s industry-facing innovation centres, PNDC is a whole energy systems research, test and demonstration facility and is hosting and running the demonstrations in its purpose-built facility in Cumbernauld, Glasgow. Scottish Power is providing real-world context and technical expertise, while QualityLogic is providing expertise and has contributed to testing schemes.

Resillion –  https://www.resillion.com

Resillion (previously Eurofins Digital Testing) has experience of building conformance regimes for consumer products used within complex systems, comprising hardware, firmware, cloud-based software and interfaces with other systems, across a wide range of technology domains. Resillion’s expertise is frequently applied in the early phases of validating new technology and specifications, and the challenges of supporting the first-to-market early implementations, requiring close liaison between stakeholders across the domain and with product development teams.

About the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero

This project has received funding from the government’s £1 billion Net Zero Innovation
Portfolio, which provides funding for low-carbon technologies and systems. Decreasing the costs of decarbonisation, the Portfolio will help enable the UK to end its contribution to climate change. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/net-zero-innovation-portfolio.

About PNDC

Established in 2013 as one of the University of Strathclyde’s industry-facing innovation centres, PNDC is a whole energy systems research, test and demonstration facility with a focus on the de-risking and acceleration of novel electricity, heat and transport systems that have the potential to make a material contribution to the realisation of net zero emissions. PNDC is an open-access facility and engages with the innovation ecosystem through multiple collaboration models, working closely with government, industrial and academic partners to connect key stakeholders through every stage of the deployment process and enable innovation through collaboration.

About Scottish Power

At ScottishPower, we’re working on a better, greener future. We only generate renewable electricity. In our drive to help reach net zero emissions by 2050, we’re working to provide customers with everything they need to make their homes greener. From 100% green electricity tariffs to electric vehicle chargers, to developing air source heat pumps and solar panels, we’re helping customers to make smarter choices for their home and the planet.

About QualityLogic

QualityLogic designs, develops, and sells smart grid test tools, training, and support services, as well as advanced testing and consulting services. The Company has been delivering the official OpenADR conformance and certification test tools, consulting, and training worldwide since 2014. QualityLogic also develops, supports, and maintains the industry standard conformance and interoperability test tools for IEEE 2030.5, WiSUN, SunSpec Modbus, and DNP3 products, and offers test tools, training, and certification program consulting and services for IEEE 1547.1/UL1741 SB and other Smart Energy technologies and web and mobile applications. QualityLogic is an active participant in Smart Grid standards activities and conferences.