GENsmart
FAQs
- Why does the National Grid need GENsmart?
Balancing supply and demand on the electrical grid for the National Grid is a constant challenge. Power plants break down, renewable power is variable and intermittent and consumer energy usage sometimes spikes. These constant fluctuations threaten the reliability of the grid and drive up energy prices.
To address imbalances between energy supply and demand, National Grid relies on STOR resources such as those offered by GENsmart which are despatched when supply and demand are out of balance. UPS Systems has partnered with the National Grid to offer our customers the opportunity to participate in the STOR scheme to help create a broad demand response network that serves as a ‘virtual power plant’, ready to provide additional power to the grid when needed most and support the grid.
- How do I take part
Simply contact us to make an appointment and we can take care of all the details leaving you to concentrate on your business.
- What is involved and what’s the cost?
There is NO COST to participate in the scheme however dependent on your installation type and choice of level of participation, some additional equipment may be required. Once an appintment is made, our team will work with you to determine a bespoke energy reduction plan based on your operations and capability. We then provide a detailed energy reduction plan to you.
All equipment required to operate the system automatically and provide communications with our Operations Centre is then installed at no cost. This also provides your own ‘live access’ to the system providing detailed information on your own energy usage both during and outside a despatch. This free system can also be used by your company to manage your own energy costs all year round (see chart below).
- What happens during a despatch?
If the National grid anticpates a need for additional power it will first contact our operations centre who will then notify you that a despatch will occur in the next 15-20 mins (18 mins on average, 20 minutes maximum).
You will then change over to generator power or reduce your energy consumption at the previously determined level as per your agreed reduction plan.
In general each despatch will last approximately one hour. Before, during and after each despatch you will continue to have access to full communications with the operations centre as our personnel are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
- Can the system be automated?
To a degree yes if you are using a generator as your prime power source during a despatch.
- What do I do now?
Contact us directly via telephone, web form or our call back system.
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