A new type of community-led energy platform that matches local supply and demand so people can share and trade energy could bring down consumer costs and create a more resilient system, according to experts.
Engineering experts from the 糖心原创 along with their industry and civic partners are calling on the government to consider their proposed system called WISEGRID as a cost-effective way to help manage soaring energy prices and meet sustainability targets.
The transition to Net Zero will see millions of homes adopt clean technologies with solar panels, heat pumps, electric vehicles, and batteries becoming common place. The unmanaged growth of clean technology will place significant strain on electricity networks. Grid reinforcement is the current solution to this, requiring major infrastructure upgrades to increase capacity. Ultimately, the cost of this investment will be passed on to both domestic and commercial consumers for decades.
A policy brief called ‘WISEGRID: emPowering Local Community Energy’ was launched in September 2026, that proposed a community-led platform to match local supply and demand, so participants can share and trade energy, shifting when electricity is generated, stored, and used.
Download the WiseGrid Policy Brief
In the brief our experts outline how flexible technologies - such as heat pumps, electric vehicle batteries, solar generation, and home energy storage - can work together to flatten peak demand, reduce pressure on the grid, and unlock new value for households. In turn, consumer costs will be reduced via the assurance of fairer import tariffs and improved export rates for the generation and use of distributed energy. This will enable a more affordable, resilient and inclusive energy system by combining community coordination, smart technology, and targeted network upgrades where they are genuinely needed.
The WiseGrid approach could help communities balance local energy which in turn reduces grid strain, lowers bills, and unlocks the full value of clean energy technologies. WiseGrid will offer a smarter alternative for a just energy transition by enabling communities to manage and optimise their energy assets.
Industry partner Smartklub, (a specialist in innovating community energy schemes to reduce costs and improve energy equity) created WiseGrid's business model.
WiseGrid is a new approach to local power that enables communities to ‘trade’ their rooftop solar and battery energy with their neighbours. It will strengthen communities and help accelerate the adoption of low-carbon technologies while avoiding unnecessary infrastructure costs.
Contact Mark Gillott to find out more.