Households in Preston and Chorley can earn £85 in new energy trial
Could you earn £85 just by using less energy at certain times? A new trial in Preston and Chorley is looking for households to take part.
Households in Preston and Chorley with air conditioning or cooling heat pumps are being invited to take part in a new Ofgem-funded energy project that could earn them more than £85 in rewards via a mobile app.
The energy project aims to explore how homes can help manage electricity demand during hot summer evenings, particularly as temperatures rise due to climate change.
The CoolDown trial will ask participating households with air conditioning or cooling heat pumps to temporarily reduce their cooling use during short peak demand periods, helping to balance electricity demand.
Participants taking part in the trial will receive invitations through the equiwatt mobile app asking them to reduce the use of their cooling systems for a short period during selected evenings.
The energy saved during each period will be measured using smart meter data, and participants will earn rewards based on their contribution through a combination of sign-up incentives, participation rewards and short surveys supporting the research programme.
Joanne Edwards, Chief of Staff at equiwatt, said: “equiwatt is delighted to be part of the CoolDown project, which explores how households across Lancashire can play an active role in shaping the future UK energy system while being rewarded for taking part.
“As our summers become warmer and demand for cooling grows, initiatives like CoolDown are essential to understanding how flexible energy use can support the electricity network. Through the equiwatt app, Lancashire households can easily get involved, reduce their energy use at key times and earn rewards for doing so.”
Richard Moulton, Head of Innovation for SP Electricity North West, said: “Electricity networks must anticipate how energy demand patterns will evolve, particularly as higher temperatures drive increased use of cooling technologies in homes.
“CoolDown provides valuable insight into how this emerging demand can be managed more efficiently. By exploring new ways to balance the network during periods of strain, the project will help ensure we can continue to deliver a reliable, low-carbon energy system while adapting to changing customer needs.”
Anyone interested in taking part can register for the trial until 1 May. Participants must have a working smart meter and use air conditioning or a cooling heat pump in their home.
Eligible residents can sign up by creating an equiwatt account and adding their cooling devices via the equiwatt smartphone app, available through the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.