Smart Fridges

Energy company NPower recently announced that they will be distributing 'Smart Fridges' to 300 homes in Britain as part of a trial.

A Smart Fridge is just like a normal fridge - except that it self regulates its operation depending on how the national grid is operating, enabling the grid to be regulated at peak demand times.

Currently, energy companies and the National Grid regulate the electricity in the grid using supply side management techniques - that is, they forecast the expected energy demand across the whole of the UK and then ensure that power stations will be producing enough energy to meet this demand. The alternative - demand side management - is a method that is currently only used in emergencies for large industrial consumers. For example, at a time of a sudden demand peak when there is not enough power being produced by power stations, certain companies will get a call telling them to switch off their energy-intensive processes, thereby dropping demand below supply and allowing the grid to remain balanced at 50Hz.


NPower's Smart Fridges would move this demand side management process into the domestic arena. The fridges are equipped with what NPower are calling 'Dynamic Demand' technology, allowing them to regulate their operation based on the frequency of the electricity currently in the grid.
In order to ensure a trouble-free electricity supply, the clever bods at the National Grid must constantly monitor and regulate supply to the grid, keeping the frequency at 50Hz. The idea of a Smart Fridge is that it will decide whether or not to draw any power based on this frequency. Fridges don't actually run constantly: they have a regular cycle of cooling periods followed by inactivity.

More information below the cut.


NPower are quick to ensure consumers that this smart process will not cause any food to go off - modern fridges are highly insulated, and able to maintain a low internal temperature for a long time before warming up.

A report from the Department of Energy and Climate Change on domestic demand side management technology says that its widespread use in Britain could save about 2m tonnes of carbon dioxide a year and a further £222m in energy savings. But I am not sure what this estimate is based upon (what number of fridges/ other smart appliances?)
If the trial is successful, it could pave the way for many more dynamic demand devices to become widespread in the home - for example in use in immersion heaters and air conditioners.
There is also a possible saving passed down to consumers: the cost of balancing the grid runs at around £600 million a year. By using dynamic demand technology, this could reduce the pressures of balancing the grid and reduce this cost - a cost which is passed on to consumers in their bills.

More information from articles here:
NPower media centre

Article on the Guardian

Article on The Register