Skip to main navigation
Home
  • Group PLC
  • Electricity Transmission
  • Electricity Distribution
  • ESO
  • United States
  • National Grid Ventures
  • National Grid Partners
  • About us
  • Stories
  • Electricity Transmission
  • ESO
  • Careers
  • Media
  • Contact us
Solar panel on roof of house

ESO: Pioneering project sees Cornish homes supply green energy to the grid

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Email

21st October 2019 - Community spirit

World first sees National Grid ESO working with Western Power Distribution to allow homes and businesses in Cornwall to sell excess clean energy through Centrica’s Cornish Local Energy Market.

ESO logo

National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) and Western Power Distribution are collaborating to trial a world first scheme, allowing homes and businesses in Cornwall to sell green energy back to the grid through Centrica’s Cornish Local Energy Market. One hundred homes and 150 businesses, equipped with solar panels and batteries have been harnessed together to act as a virtual, mini power plant for the local energy network and the National Grid ESO.

When the weather is sunny these homes and businesses can either store excess energy for later, or sell it back to provide extra clean energy to the system. By storing energy, homes and businesses can be more flexible in their energy use – reducing it when demand is high in return for payment and increasing it when excess supply is available. This helps National Grid ESO to balance the UK’s energy network.

“As we move towards our 2025 ambition of being able to operate the British electricity system carbon free, we are seeing more renewable generation come online – such as wind and solar –  which requires increased flexibility to balance the grid. Initiatives such as the Cornwall scheme help us deliver secure, sustainable and affordable electricity – softening peaks in demand and filling in the troughs, especially at times when more power is available. And it’s cleaner too. Even though we’re in the early stages of the trial, we’re looking forward to evaluating the results,” explains Colm Murphy, Electricity Market Change Development Manager, National Grid ESO.

This project is part of National Grid ESO’s drive to participate in more intelligent energy use and technology. Another example of this is Demand Side Response (DSR), which helps businesses increase, decrease or shift their electricity use to help balance the electricity system. Businesses receive financial incentives to manage their energy use flexibly, but this initiative also helps them to reduce their carbon footprint and plays a part in helping the UK to transition to a low carbon energy system.

The Cornwall trial is the first in what could become a nationwide network of flexible smart grids providing clean energy to help Britain reach its target to become a carbon net zero economy by 2050.

Similar reading

US : Community spirit

Solar-powered tiny homes help tackle homelessness in New York

6 December 2022

As part of our Project C initiative, we have teamed up with A Tiny Home for Good to help those who face homelessness in Central New York State, providing them with places to live and thrive that are also affordable and energy efficient.

Find out more
Group : Community spirit

‘Grid for Good’ celebrates one year of bringing young people opportunities in the energy sector

18 November 2021

In a year where the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated circumstances for many, programmes like Grid for Good have been more important than ever in helping young talent access and explore the energy sector. Discover some of the brilliant results we’ve achieved in this first year, plus our plans for the year ahead.

Read article
Group : Community spirit

National Grid's Inclusion Week goes international

5 October 2021

For the past five years, we’ve celebrated Inclusion Week in the UK. This year the celebrations grew bigger and better, with colleagues based in both the UK and the NorthEastern US taking part in a week-long programme of activities.

Read article

Safety and emergencies

  • Smell gas? Call 0800 111 999
  • Power cuts? Call 105
  • Power lines? Call 0800 40 40 90
National Grid
© National Grid 2023

Connect with us

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • youtube
  • Instagram
  • Connect with us
    • Contact us
    • Media contacts
  • About us
    • Electricity System Operator
    • Electricity Transmission
    • Gas Transmission
    • UK Leadership team
  • Work for us
    • Careers UK
    • Careers US
  • Safety and emergencies
    • Power cuts
    • Smell gas?
  • Our policies
    • Terms and conditions
    • Privacy policy
    • Modern slavery statement
    • Accessibility
    • Cookie policy
  • More from National Grid
    • Stories
    • Investors
    • Energy explained
    • Suppliers
    • Pay your bill (US)
© National Grid 2023
Top