The clean energy transition isn’t just about building new infrastructure — it’s about using what we already have, more intelligently.
At Voltalis, we believe that millions of UK homes hold the key to a cleaner, cheaper, and more resilient energy future. That’s exactly what we set out to prove with the Power of Home Optimisation & Management of Energy (HOMEs) project, a major initiative focused on home energy optimisation in the UK.
What is the Power of HOMEs project?
Backed by the UK Government’s Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), the HOMEs project was funded through the Energy Innovation Programme to explore how UK households can help stabilise the electricity grid, reduce energy demand, and cut carbon — all without changing comfort or behaviour.
How it worked: smart technology in everyday homes
As part of the pilot, 500 UK households received Voltalis smart energy devices, completely free of charge.
- Devices installed on electric radiators, water heaters, and heat pumps
- Connected to our X-IoE™ platform — Voltalis’ Internet-of-Energy system
- Real-time control via the MyVoltalis app or online dashboard
- Automatic, brief reductions in energy use during peak demand periods
- No sacrifice to comfort, no need to change supplier
This setup delivers residential demand-side flexibility: empowering homes to become an active part of the energy system, not just passive consumers.
Proven results from real homes
A winter trial run over 35 days showed powerful results:
- 12% average reduction in electricity use during peak hours
- Instant, automatic participation in grid-balancing services like National Grid STOR
- Enhanced comfort and control for households through smart heating management
- Zero disruption to daily life
Put simply, homes stayed warm, while helping reduce fossil fuel use and stabilise the grid.
A blueprint for home energy optimisation in the UK
If scaled nationally, residential flexibility could unlock huge benefits:
- 20 GW of flexible capacity from UK homes — enough to rival major power stations
- Reduced reliance on expensive fossil-fuel backup
- Thousands of new green energy jobs
- Lower energy bills for households
- Acceleration towards Net Zero 2050 targets
All at no cost to residents, and with zero disruption.
The future is flexible: smarter homes, stronger grid
The Power of HOMEs project proves that home energy optimisation isn’t a future concept – it’s happening now.
With the right technology and support, ordinary households can make an extraordinary impact on the UK’s energy future. It’s good for people, good for the grid, and great for the planet.
