British Gas leads electricity smart meter project

The project, which also includes participation from CE Electric UK, Durham University and EA Technology, aims to lay the foundations for helping British homes and businesses slash their carbon footprint, reduce energy use and potentially save on electricity bills.   

If successful, British Gas claims the knowledge gained from the project could speed up the installation of low-carbon technology, potentially saving homes and businesses across the UK around £8bn in energy costs and 43 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions.

The consortium is asking up to 14,000 homes in the north east and Yorkshire area to volunteer for the study. Each home will be equipped with a smart meter, while some will trial a number of low-carbon technologies.

British Gas is currently in discussion with industry giants such as GE, Panasonic and Nissan to join the consortium. Their participation could help install solar PV panels in up to 800 homes, provide 150 participants with electric cars and up to 1,500 residences with either ground-source or air-source heat pumps. Some homes may also be installed with combined heat and power boilers.