The UK government has signed a four year deal to reduce energy consumption in public buildings, hospitals, universities and military bases at times of peak demand.
Through its Government Procurement Service (GPS), companies including KiwiPower and Flexitricity will provide demand response services to the central government and public sector estate, which uses around 10% of the UK’s total electricity demand. The aim is to help all UK government departments and agencies in achieving their financial and sustainability targets through measures such as curtailing and shifting electricity consumption and using back-up power generation to reduce the strain on the national grid.
GPS is part of the Efficiency and Reform Group in the Cabinet Office. Suppliers signed-up to the framework will provide demand response opportunities through GPS for the public sector whether it is a hospital, RAF station or multiple local authority buildings.
Scott Buckleton, head of business development at GPS said: “As energy costs climb for everyone, not only will demand response programmes help curtail electricity usage, these programmes do it in a way that does not interfere with the critical infrastructure of our nation's government sites and help maintain budgets for doing the real work of supporting the UK”.
"We are delighted to work with GPS and public sector facilities on demand response participation," said Ziko Abram, director and co-founder of KiWi Power. "Not only will participants benefit from a new, recurring revenue stream for committing to reduce energy consumption when called to do so, but they will help alleviate supply constraints throughout the country, enhance transmission system reliability and generate a new source of funding for additional energy and site initiatives."