Adapting to Increased Network Demand

Adapting to Increased Network Demand: Navigating Decarbonisation and Housing Policies with Innovative Solutions

Our sector is seeing, now, more than ever, the need for increased network demand in the drive towards decarbonisation and the policies being shaped by the Labour Government are putting greater focus on this need. 

With Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities,  doubling down on Labour’s promise for 1.5millions homes in the next five years, with an annual of target of 370,000 new homes, it is imperative that we adapt to new technologies to help ease the impact of added demand on the network.  

Although this is welcome news, and a great step towards solving the UK’s housing shortage, such a rapid increase of new homes will have implications for owners and operators of the electrical network, with increased demand for new connections placing additional pressures on the grid.   

What’s more, this new house building push comes following a string of legislation to support the country’s net zero obligations and facilitate the uptake of low carbon technologies (LCTs).  

For example, since June 2022 all new homes in the UK are now required to have electric car charging points under Part S of the Building Regulations. Similarly, from 2025 gas boilers will be banned in all new build properties as part of the Future Homes Standard, which will favour the installation of more sustainable heating solutions such as heat pumps.  

Initiatives for existing housing are also driving demand, with programmes such as the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) and the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) offering grants to eligible homeowners to upgrade the energy performance of their properties, which can include the installation of appropriate renewable technologies. 

Whether new build or retrofit, one thing is certain, the increase of homes and LCTs will mean more pressure for the owners and operators of the network. Monitoring existing networks and accurately modelling new connections will be essential to futureproof our networks. 

At VisNet, innovation and adapting new technologies to respond to the changing decarbonisation landscape is at core of what we do. We are constantly evolving our Modelling and Monitoring technologies to support our customers and remove barriers to decarbonisation.  

So, while it’s clear that the coming years present many challenges, there are numerous opportunities too; and we’re looking forward to helping our customersyou develop stronger, futureproofed networks as we take this next step on the journey towards net zero.  

Anticipate tomorrow’s grid today with hardware and software solutions from VisNet  

VisNet® Modelling

VisNet Modelling equips network operators with advanced software solutions, enabling effortless self-service for connection requests and comprehensive network modelling. These tools are designed to help you navigate the growing challenges faced by energy network operators, ensuring you are well-prepared to meet future demands. 

Find out more about VisNet Design, VisNet Connect and VisNet Connect Lite. 

VisNet® Monitoring 

VisNet Monitoring offers valuable insights into your LV Network, enabling both owners and operators to reduce restoration times and prevent failures. Our integrated suite of software and hardware solutions assist with capacity management, both proactive and reactive reliability, gives insight into power quality, supports local integrations, and much more. 

Find out more about our range of products here.