Using smart meter data to analyse low carbon technology loads in Northern Ireland

To achieve Northern Ireland’s decarbonisation objectives, a large volume of low carbon technology (LCT) loads are forecasted to connect at the edge of distribution networks. A lack of visibility of the low voltage network makes it difficult to investigate technical challenges such as network congestion, wider network imbalances, and sharper slopes towards peak demand. Low voltage monitoring and customer measurements are essential to forecast the effect of mass deployment on LCTs on the low voltage network to meet international and national commitments. Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) Networks strategically deployed 1, 000 smart meters in domestic customer premises as part of a 2022 pilot project. Approximately 70% of meters were installed at premises with an LCT such as a rooftop photovoltaic system, an electric vehicle or a heat pump. In this paper, half-hourly smart meter data is used to generate customer profiles. As expected, customers with LCT loads showed a significant increase in peak demand against non-LCT customers. The effect of time-of-use tariffs is also clear with some customers presenting overnight peak demands significantly higher than traditional tea time peaks. This is a fundamental shift in network investment drivers, network operation costs and potential generation triggers.