When people hear about Equiwatt they are cynical as to whether you can really get paid for saving energy. Below we outline the key ways that Equiwatt generates revenue, how we can pay you for taking part and why what we do is so important to the infrastructure of this country.
Frequency response
This is the front line of electricity system balancing. Frequency response responds to failures at large power stations. Most assets reduce their load in around a second, and resume normal operation within 30 minutes to an hour. These events happen around 10 times each year. It’s fast power response when the grid really needs it. Equiwatt, as a digital service can deliver this function to the grid in seconds and does not rely on just one item but 1000s. However, these events are relatively rare, the National Grid pays Equiwatt for the availability of this service.
Demand turn-up
We pay customers to use electricity when there’s too much wind energy. We operate in a unique product category which is Britain’s first system for making use of excess wind power. We pay you to increase consumption so that the National Grid doesn’t have to pay wind farms to shut down. Demand turn-up benefits your home and fuels it using the greenest of all energy.
Short term operating reserve
Short term operating reserve (STOR) is the National Grid's most important source of reserve energy capacity. STOR is delivered by reducing electricity demand or increasing generation within 10 minutes and sustaining this for around one to two hours. When you join Equiwatt and attach a device such as an EV your points are calculated from both the cars availability and its participation in Equievents.
Triad management
Triad management is probably the most lucrative form of demand response. The triad system is the way National Grid charges for the cost of the transmission network. By reducing load when national demand is at its highest allows our customers to save (on a flexible tariff) and earn money.
As you can see the UK energy system is a highly complex place that uses multiple tools to provide stable reliable power to our homes and businesses. Equiwatt technology enables the majority of households to support these functions like never before and be paid for the contributions you make. The world is a better place when we use and save energy together when it matters the most.
