Smarthubs SLES

A large-scale UK demonstrator will wire up heat, power, and transport into a single, internet-connected energy system to prove that local smart grids can pay for themselves. The problem is that smart grids—local networks that balance energy generation with demand—have stalled. They lack open, interoperable software systems, stable revenue streams for storage and demand-shifting, and local leadership to coordinate multiple energy types (electricity, heat, fuel). Without these, the technology remains too expensive and risky to deploy at scale. This demonstrator tackles all three barriers at once. It builds hybrid systems across heat, power, and transport, linked by an interoperable Internet of Things layer that functions as a virtual private network. The consortium targets a 30% reduction in future deployment costs across the portfolio of technologies and business models. If successful, the project will provide hard evidence on maintenance, operation, and revenue profiles, making smart local energy systems self-fundable by the early 2020s. For the public, this could mean cheaper, more resilient local energy that integrates electric vehicles and heat pumps without overwhelming the national grid.