Bottom-up
Electricity networks / EDBs
Before we build more, can we use what we already have better?
Electrification increases demand, but constraints occur at particular times, places, transformers and phases. Substantial capacity can remain unused for much of the day.
- New EV at a home
- Local cluster of extra demand
Load shaping
Create a better load shape.
A transformer can face short coincident peaks despite spare capacity at other times. Heatr can reshape flexible demand around those constraints.
A few short peaks can drive capacity needs.
Same daily energy · Different demand profile- Unmanaged demand
- With Heatr
- Above the operating limit
The objective goes beyond load shedding: use available capacity without creating another coincident peak when heating resumes.
Deliver flexibility where the constraint is
Start at the lowest point of the network.
A kilowatt removed at the constrained LV phase or feeder also reduces demand upstream toward the grid exit point (GXP). The reverse isn’t guaranteed: flexibility requested upstream may not arrive where the local constraint is.
Top-down
10 kW requested at the GXP may not land on the constrained phase.
Heatr can target available flexibility at the lowest useful point of the LV network, supporting the local constraint and the network above it.
VBDC · Sense, understand, respond locally
Local voltage. Local response.
With Voltage Based Distributed Control (VBDC), Heatr uses locally observed voltage behaviour to respond to conditions at its location on the LV feeder and autonomously adjust suitable controllable demand. It is not simply load shedding, and it is not price optimisation.
- 01
Local electrical condition
Heatr senses conditions where the load is connected.
- 02
Flexibility at that location
It understands what flexible load is available there.
- 03
Autonomous local response
Loads respond on their own, close to the condition.
- 04
Continuously adapt
Response follows the condition as it changes.
The local feeder voltage becomes a coordination signal.
Flexible loads on the same feeder see the same local condition, so their responses work in the same direction — back toward the allowable voltage range.
Low voltage · Heavy local load
Reduce or pause flexible load
When local loading causes voltage to fall, suitable flexible load can be reduced or paused to support the feeder and help protect local assets.
01Local voltage falls below the allowable range. - Available flexible load responds
02Selected flexible loads reduce or pause. Others carry on unchanged. 03Voltage moves back into the allowable range.
High voltage · Local solar
Increase or bring load forward
Strong local solar export can raise feeder voltage. Where suitable load is available, Heatr can bring it on to absorb energy locally, supporting solar hosting capacity.
01Local solar export pushes voltage above the allowable range. - Available flexible load responds
02Selected flexible loads increase or come forward. Others carry on unchanged. 03Voltage moves back into the allowable range.
Expected solar periods
Where high solar output is expected, suitable flexible demand can be held back beforehand, so useful load is available to bring on when it’s needed.
Target by phase
Know which phase. Target the right loads.
Flexibility elsewhere may not relieve a constraint on a particular phase of a feeder or transformer. Heatr identifies the phase of its connected assets, so flexible-load control can be targeted where it matters.
- Targeted: flexible loads on the constrained phase
- Not needed: other phases
Where flexibility sits
On the constrained phase
Flexibility needs to be on the phase that is constrained. Load reduced on another phase doesn’t relieve it.
Position along the feeder
Flexibility near the transformer has a different effect from flexibility further down the feeder.
Generic flexibility
Random or untargeted flexibility is much less useful. Poorly targeted across phases, it can add to phase imbalance.
The same kilowatts, applied two ways.
Want to know more about LV topology and phase discovery?
Locational value
A kilowatt of flexibility
isn’t equally valuable everywhere.
Start with the constraint at the lowest relevant level. Aggregate useful flexibility upward.
A centrally requested megawatt is useful, but its network value depends on where the response actually happens. Flexibility that solves a local constraint also contributes to wider system needs.
Same kW. Different network value.
Example · L2 constraint at the end of the feederAAt / behind the constraint · On L2
Directly useful for this local constraint, and also reduces demand upstream.
- This L2 constraint
- Relieves
- Upstream L2 / transformer
- Relieves
BNear the transformer · On L2
May help an upstream L2 or transformer constraint, but may not relieve this downstream end-of-feeder constraint.
- This L2 constraint
- May not relieve
- Upstream L2 / transformer
- May help
CEnd of feeder · On L1
Does not relieve this L2 constraint. Poor targeting across phases can also contribute to phase imbalance.
- This L2 constraint
- Doesn’t relieve
- Phase balance
- Can worsen
The same kilowatt can solve different constraints depending on where in the network — and on which phase — it responds.
Better network utilisation
Get more from existing network assets.
Use flexibility where it is economically appropriate, and reinforce at the right place and time.
- 01Improve utilisation and manage local coincident peaks.
- 02Respond to local voltage conditions with targeted phase-aware flexibility.
- 03Accommodate electrification and renewable generation.
- 04Potentially defer reinforcement where flexibility is the appropriate solution.
Regulators and industry are increasingly considering non-network solutions alongside traditional network investment.
Flexibility does not eliminate network investment. It helps make better use of existing infrastructure.
Talk to Heatr →