This study assessed how residential energy customers can coordinate their distributed energy resources (DERs) through a Home Energy Management System (HEMS). The study considers the readiness of available HEMS products and services to respond to dynamic operating envelopes (DOEs).
Report extract
The study fits within a body of work addressing the complexity of implementing DOEs at the customer’s point of connection in the electricity distribution network. It is an ARENA-funded study led by strategy consultancy Enea in support of the Distributed Energy Integration Program’s (DEIP) DOE Workstream.
Key findings
- HEMS technologies are still in market infancy and the commercial implications on the HEMS market of implementing DOEs at scale remain unclear.
- There are no technical challenges for HEMS to respond to DOEs, however, interoperability between behind-the-meter devices, Distribution Network Service Providers, and the customer connection points remains a challenge. Similarly limited progress on regulatory requirements for cyber security was identified as a potential challenge.
- Areas for future investigation:
- Consider the interactions between DOEs and flexible trading relationships
- Explore increasing the HEMS value proposition for customers
- Investigate the costs and benefits of open device standards
- Explore the national harmonisation of DOEs
- Consider bespoke regulatory frameworks for compliance with and enforcement of DOEs.