A groundbreaking smart heat pump trial from energy supplier OVO has revealed a simple way for UK households to significantly reduce their energy bills and carbon footprint. The key is a 'midday' rule that automatically adjusts home heating.
The Trial and Its Significant Findings
The pioneering initiative, run by OVO with support from the innovation foundation Nesta, involved 58 households subscribed to OVO's Heat Pump Plus tariff. For a period of three months, the participants' heating schedules were remotely controlled by smart automation.
The system worked by preheating homes by just 1°C during midday, when electricity is typically at its cheapest and greenest. It then allowed the temperature to decrease by 1°C between 4pm and 7pm, the peak evening period when national energy demand surges and prices are highest.
This intelligent shifting of energy use resulted in a dramatic drop in consumption during the most expensive and grid-intensive hours. The trial successfully demonstrated that electricity use during peak hours fell by a third.
Easing Grid Pressure and Cutting Costs
This trial arrives at a critical time for the UK, which faces mounting pressure to balance electricity grid demand and reduce household energy costs. The evening peak, in particular, poses a risk of increased bills and reduced system reliability.
Chris Watling, Clean Heat Lead at OVO, stated: "Heat pumps are a key part of cleaner, cheaper home heating, but they need to be affordable and simple for everyone to use." He emphasised that the company is helping households switch from gas to low-carbon heating that cuts bills, reduces carbon emissions, and alleviates strain on the national grid.
However, Watling also highlighted the need for government support to bring down upfront costs and ensure the right incentives are in place to make clean heating the easiest choice for every British home.
A Faster Rollout for Clean Heating
Andrew Sissons, deputy director of sustainable future at Nesta, commented on the broader implications. "Heat pumps are the most efficient alternative to fossil fuel heating," he said, noting that home decarbonisation will inevitably increase electricity use.
He believes that new heat pump tariffs featuring automatic control could make a substantial difference, allowing climate-conscious consumers to stay cosy without altering their daily habits. Innovations like this are paving the way for a faster rollout of heat pumps and have the potential to cut energy bills further, especially if the government takes wider action to reduce electricity costs.
