Increasing amounts of detailed energy use data captured through the smart meter rollout is prompting energy suppliers to explore a range of new business opportunities, according to research by Capgemini. Based on 50 interviews with the executives at the ‘Big Six’ and a number of ‘challenger’ energy suppliers, the study found a consensus across the sector that the market will be “completely turned on its head” by a host of digital transformations and the wider clean energy transition over the next five years. A raft of disruptions to the UK energy sector are expected in the coming years, with flexibility services, electric vehicles, battery storage, local generation, and increasing renewables capacity all expected to help decarbonise the industry and boost green business opportunities. But the pivotal driver for the impending transformation is the government’s smart meter rollout, according to 84 per cent of those interviewed. The government has set a goal to install a smart meter in every home and small business by 2020 in order to boost energy saving efforts and deliver richer energy data to suppliers. The long-trailed promise of an energy system that can automatically optimise peaks and troughs in clean power supply and demand, while helping customers cut costs as they generate power on site or charge their electric cars is finally on the cusp of becoming a reality.
Business Green 1st Aug 2018 read more »