Exciting times - Community DSO is coming to Dodworth!

The trial is opening up the relationship between energy generated and consumed behind a substation (local energy on the low voltage network) and generation & demand of energy on the high voltage network. 

The trial will examine the data on the energy flows behind a substation to ascertain whether more capacity (low carbon technologies like solar PV, air source heat pumps and electric vehicle chargers) can be added without having to reinforce the local substation. 

The community will be rewarded for avoiding ‘stress events’ on the local grid at times of peak energy usage and for agreeing to participate in the trials.

During the trial, we will test how homes with solar panels, batteries, heat pumps, and electric vehicle chargers can better manage energy use, ensuring power flows smoothly in the local area. This could make it easier and quicker for more homes to install low-carbon technologies in the future.

Local energy is electricity generated close to where it is used, typically from renewable sources like rooftop solar panels, small wind turbines, and smart batteries connected to the local low-voltage network.

In contrast, traditional energy comes from large, distant power stations—such as nuclear plants, offshore wind farms, or coal and gas power stations—which supply electricity to communities via the national grid. This system results in energy losses as electricity travels long distances, making it less efficient and often less clean.

Local energy, by comparison, is cleaner and more efficient because it is generated and consumed within the community. 

In this trial, we will focus on solar energy produced by homes on the same local power line (or feeder) from the substation. Because this energy doesn’t travel across the wider national grid, it should be cheaper for you to buy excess solar from your neighbours while allowing them to earn more than if they sold it to a national supplier. This approach benefits both individuals and the wider community.

The trial is based on feeder lines—the copper wires that run from a local substation to homes and businesses. Your trial community consists of everyone connected to the same feeder line, meaning that the community is clearly defined.

Only residents and businesses on the selected feeder lines will be invited to take part.

The smart hub is 10x10x3cm (small) and is installed in close proximity to your meter board (consumer unit). The smart hub requires a plug power source to operate.

Yes, the Kiome Smart Hub is completely safe. It meets all EU and UK safety regulations and is a small, low-voltage device designed for homes just like yours. 

The hub is installed close to your consumer unit and securely sends energy data to the project using a built-in SIM card—just like a mobile phone connecting to the internet. The Kiome Hub is already used in many homes across Europe and requires no maintenance or effort from you. For more details, you can visit: https://cleanwatts.energy/kiome/.

The Kiome Smart Hub will measure the total electricity your home uses from the grid. If you have solar panels, it will also track how much energy you generate and export back to the network. Every 15 minutes, the hub securely sends your energy use in kilowatt-hours (kWh) to the project. By installing smart hubs in multiple homes connected to the same part of the network, we can better understand how power flows to and from the local substation. This helps identify and manage times when too much electricity is being used or sent back, ensuring a more reliable and efficient network for everyone.

Your energy data will be securely collected by Cleanwatts, the makers of the Kiome Smart Hub, and shared with Energise Barnsley, who are leading the local community energy group in Dodworth. 

When you join the trial, you will sign a GDPR consent form, ensuring that all project partners follow strict data protection and privacy rules. Your data may be shared between project partners if needed to resolve technical issues, but it will not be shared beyond the project. Any data used in research reports or publications will be anonymised and combined with others to protect your privacy.

 The Kiome Smart Hub will monitor the energy flowing to and from your home.

If you have a home battery, you can choose to allow the project to remotely manage its charging and discharging through the hub. However, this will always be within the limits you set in the Kiome app.

The Kiome smart hub will not affect any devices in your home. It simply requires one plug socket for power.

If you have a home battery, you can choose to allow the project to remotely manage its charging and discharging, but only within the limits you set in the Kiome app.

Additionally, we may occasionally send you messages suggesting ways to shift when you use certain appliances. This is entirely optional, but if you choose to take part, you could earn rewards for doing so.

Yes, the Kiome smart hub has indicator lights that provide information in an easy and quick way. Through the indicator lights, you will be able to see if the hub is connected, and if there are power constraints in your local network. If so, you can help your community and local grid by reducing your energy usage during that period and be rewarded for it.

You will also be able to download the Kiome app, which will give you real-time insights into your home’s energy usage. The app will show whether there are power constraints on your local network and if you have opportunities to earn money by adjusting when you use certain appliances to support the project.

If you don’t want to use the app, the community manager Energise Barnsley can download data for your home and ‘translate it into plain English.’