CDSO Details and FAQs

Community Energy Sharing Trial-Details and FAQs

FAQS

How will the trial help the community use local energy more efficiently?

The trial is opening up the relationship between energy generated and consumed behind a substation (local energy on the low voltage network) and generation & demand of energy on the high voltage network.
The trial will examine the data on the energy flows behind a substation to ascertain whether more capacity (low carbon technologies like solar PV, air source heat pumps and electric vehicle chargers) can be added without having to reinforce the local substation.
The community will be rewarded for avoiding 'stress events' on the local grid at times of peak energy usage and for agreeing to participate in the trials.
During the trial, we will test how buildings with solar panels, batteries, heat pumps, and electric vehicle chargers can better manage energy use, ensuring power flows smoothly in the local area. This could make it easier and quicker for more homes to install low-carbon technologies in the future.

What is local energy?

Local energy is electricity generated close to where it is used, typically from renewable sources like rooftop solar panels, small wind turbines, and smart batteries connected to the local low-voltage network.
In contrast, traditional energy comes from large, distant power stations—such as nuclear plants, offshore wind farms, or coal and gas power stations—which supply electricity to communities via the national grid. This system results in energy losses as electricity travels long distances, making it less efficient and often less clean.
Local energy, by comparison, is cleaner and more efficient because it is generated and consumed within the community.
In this trial, we will focus on solar energy produced by homes on the same local power line (or feeder) from the substation. Because this energy doesn’t travel across the wider national grid, it should be cheaper for you to buy excess solar from your neighbours while allowing them to earn more than if they sold it to a national supplier. This approach benefits both individuals and the wider community.

Who can join the trial?

The trial is based on feeder lines—the copper wires that run from a local substation to homes and businesses. Your trial community consists of everyone connected to the feeders from Knaresborough Windsor substation, which is located behind the flats on Windsor Lane, meaning that the community is clearly defined, Only residents and businesses on the selected feeder lines will be invited to take part.

How does my smart meter work?

A smart meter sends an electronic meter reading to your energy supplier, meaning they won't need to take a manual meter reading.
You' will have a digital display in your home, helping you to keep track of how much energy you're using and how much it's costing.

What will the smart hub do?

The Kiome Smart Hub will be installed by a trusted electrician, then will monitor the energy flowing to and from your home.
If you have a home battery, you can choose to allow the project to remotely manage its charging and discharging through the hub. However, this will always be within the limits you set in the Kiome app.
To visualise the electricity flow you can download the Kiome app to your smart phone
can read about the Kiome platform online at https://cleanwatts.energy/kiome/

Can I see what the equipment is doing?

Yes, the Kiome smart hub has indicator lights that provide information in an easy and quick way. Through the indicator lights, you will be able to see if the hub is connected, and if there are power constraints in your local network. If so, you can help your community and local grid by adjusting your energy usage during that period and be rewarded for it.
You will also be able to download the Kiome app, which will give you real-time insights into your home’s energy usage. The app will show if you have opportunities to earn money by adjusting when you use certain appliances to support the project.
If you don’t want to use the app, the community manager at Knaresborough can download data for your home and ‘translate it into plain English.’

How big is the smart hub and where will it be installed in the house?

The smart hub is 10x10x3cm (small) and is installed near your meter board (consumer unit). The smart hub requires a plug power source to operate

What data will the smart hub send?

The Kiome Smart Hub will measure the total electricity your home uses from the grid. If you have solar panels, it will also track how much energy you generate and export back to the network. Every 15 minutes, the hub securely sends your energy use in kilowatt-hours (kWh) to the project. By installing smart hubs in multiple homes connected to the same part of the network, we can better understand how power flows to and from the local substation. This helps identify and manage times when too much electricity is being used or sent back, ensuring a more reliable and efficient network for everyone.

Who will see the data from the smart hub?

Your energy data will be securely collected by Cleanwatts, the makers of the Kiome Smart Hub, and shared with Knaresborough Community Energy.
When you join the trial, you will sign a GDPR consent form, ensuring that all project partners follow strict data protection and privacy rules. Your data may be shared between project partners if needed to resolve technical issues, but it will not be shared beyond the project. Any data used in research reports or publications will be anonymised and combined with others to protect your privacy.

Will any electrical devices in my house be impacted?

The Kiome smart hub will not affect any devices in your home. It simply requires one plug socket for power. If you have a home battery, you can choose to allow the project to remotely manage its charging and discharging, but only within the limits you set in the Kiome app. Additionally, we may occasionally send you messages suggesting ways to shift when you use certain appliances. This is entirely optional, but if you choose to take part, you could earn rewards for doing so.

Is the smart hub safe?

Yes, the Kiome Smart Hub is completely safe. It meets all EU and UK safety regulations and is a small, low-voltage device designed for homes just like yours.
The hub is installed close to your consumer unit and securely sends energy data to the project using a built-in SIM card—just like a mobile phone connecting to the internet. The Kiome Hub is already used in many homes across Europe and requires no maintenance or effort from you. For more details, you can visit: https://cleanwatts.energy/kiome/.

Will I benefit from the trial outcomes?

By taking part in this trial, you will:

Earn an installation fee, rewards and potentially lower your energy bills.
Have more control – The free Kiome home energy system lets you monitor and manage your energy use in real-time.
Support your community – Your participation helps build a community fund for local projects
This is an opportunity to be part of a forward-thinking energy project that benefits both your home and your local community.

What kind of rewards will there be?

You will receive £75 when the smart hub is installed and £25 each quarter as long as the smart hub remains active, and you complete a quarterly survey. You can earn additional reward if you actively take part in events to reduce electricity consumption.

Will the financial rewards continue after the trial ends?

The trial is designed to help communities take control of their local energy use in a way that can be self-sustaining. While we can only guarantee payments during the trial, the goal is for Knaresborough to continue supporting the community beyond this period, if a commercially viable model is a product of the trial.
By working together, the community should create ongoing value—helping the energy network run more smoothly and enabling residents to share locally generated clean energy at lower costs.
We expect this value to support the community energy group and potentially provide ongoing financial rewards or other benefits for members after the trial ends.

Trial Overview

Knaresborough Community Energy is taking part in a groundbreaking energy trial with Northern Powergrid, designed to give communities more control over how electricity is used and shared locally. This is part of a new way of thinking called the ‘cellular approach’.

Your local electricity system is a “cell” a group of homes, businesses, and energy users all connected to the same electricity substation. By focusing on the local cell level, we can manage how energy is produced, used, and shared more efficiently right where it’s needed. For example, using local solar power more efficiently, shifting when devices like electric vehicle chargers or home batteries operate, and reducing the need for expensive upgrades to the grid.

The aim is to test how communities like Knaresborough can play an active role in making our energy system smarter and fairer, whether that is through directly managing how energy is used in the area, or simply by sharing data that helps the wider system run more smoothly.

Through this trial, we will learn how people want to be involved, how much flexibility they are comfortable with, and how local benefits (like lower bills or more community investment) can be delivered.

The cellular approach is called Community DSO (Community Distribution System Operation).

Northern Powergrid (NPg) manages the electricity network that powers everyone in our region; that is more than 8 million people across 3.9 million homes and businesses in the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire. NPg is also the owner, sponsor, and operator of this Community DSO innovation trial.

This Northern Powergrid Community DSO project is a five year £14.5m Ofgem-funded Network Innovation Competition (NIC) study being tested in this region. Knaresborough is one of three communities involved - the others being in Whitley Bay and Barnsley. In partnership with Ofgem, LCP Delta and TNEI, the ‘Community DSO’ trial aims to empower communities to manage their own local energy systems more efficiently. During the trials, we will be testing how communities can generate, use and share their own electricity to help better manage power flows locally, through using energy when it is plentiful and shifting use from peak times. This is part of the UK’s whole energy system plan to enable the sustainable electrification of the economy, and for government to build a total energy system that can bring down bills for households and businesses, whilst delivering Net Zero promises.

To read the latest Community DSO project dissemination publications at any time, go to: https://www.northernpowergrid.com/community-dso

Trial Duration
Planning for the Knaresborough Community DSO trial began in September 2024, and the trial will run until late 2026. Active energy monitoring and management of local properties will begin in September 2025.

Trial Objectives
The community energy sharing trial aims to transform local energy management by integrating smart technologies, market-driven incentives, and community engagement.
By participating, you’ll help optimise Knaresborough’s community energy use by making better use of local solar generation, energy storage batteries and EV chargers as well as:

Increase substation capacity, allowing more homes to install low-carbon technologies (LCTs).
Reduce the need for costly grid upgrades by managing local energy flows.
Deliver financial and community benefits, rewarding participants for their role in improving energy efficiency.

Your home is one of 180 addresses eligible to take part, as it is connected to Windsor Knaresborough substation, behind Windsor Lane flats.

This trial is ONLY for residents and businesses on this substation.

Trial Delivery Partners
The trial is led by the Condor Consortium, which includes:

Consortium Lead Partner: Electric Places (Community Interest Company)
Community Partner: Knaresborough Community Energy Ltd (CBS)
Technical Partners: CleanWatts, EV.energy, Nodes, SMPnet

Benefits of Participation
By joining the trial, you’ll help Knaresborough use local energy more efficiently and be financially rewarded for doing so:

By agreeing to have a free Smart Hub (Kiome home energy management system), which tracks your energy use installed in your home you will earn £25 at install and £25 at the end of the trial if still participating.
You receive £25 if you download an app to self-flex your electricity usage and you get £5 each month that you keep the app during the scheme. You also get up to £10 per month for flexing your usage.
Monthly payments for continued use of the app.
By participating in trial events to adjust energy usage you will earn additional financial rewards.
In addition the trial will contribute to a community energy fund where you can help choose the best way to spend the money.
No need to change your energy supplier or existing tariff.
Be part of the UK’s first-of-its-kind community energy project, helping shape the future of energy.
There is no cost to the resident for participation.

Trial participant responsibilities

You will be asked to

Confirm your participation through written active consent
Allow the project team to install and monitor a Kiome Smart Hub in your home.
Ensure project equipment remains switched on and operational.
Allow access for maintenance if equipment or devices stop responding.
Download and use the app to change usage behaviour.
Provide feedback via short surveys, helping evaluate the project’s success.

Potential Risks
The trial does not pose any legal, financial, or social risks to participants.
At no time will you be asked for any money whatsoever from any partners on this project or Northern Powergrid.

If you agree to remote management of your battery or EV charging, it may be charged or discharged automatically. However, the timing and extent of these actions will be based on your selected preferences in the Kiome app.
You can read about the Kiome platform online at https://cleanwatts.energy/kiome/

Privacy Notice
This section outlines how your personal data will be collected, processed, and used as part of your participation in the Community DSO research project, led by Electric Places (the operating name of Electric Corby CIC) in partnership with Knaresborough Community Energy, Northern Powergrid and other consortium partners.
The data controller of your personal data processed under the project is Northern Powergrid, the trading name of Northern Powergrid (Northeast) plc (Registered No: 2906593) and Northern Powergrid (Yorkshire) plc (Registered No: 4112320). Registered Office: Lloyds Court, 78 Grey Street, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 6AF. Registered in England and Wales. Your data will be processed in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Full details of the GDPR cover is provided in the consent form.

Why We Collect Your Data?
This project seeks to identify energy needs and optimise energy consumption for residents within the energy community. To achieve this, the project team will:

Monitor and control energy assets in your home (e.g., batteries or other flexible loads such as electric vehicles).
Collect and process data on your energy usage, electricity Meter Point Administration Number (MPAN), name, address, email, and bank account details so that we can pay you for participating in the trial.
Collect and analyse opinions, feedback, and survey responses regarding your experiences and perceptions of the project.

The legal basis for processing your data is:
Consent – Based on Article 6(1)(a) of the UK GDPR, your freely given, informed, and unambiguous consent is required for project participation.

How Your Data Will Be Used

Your data will be used to:

Optimise energy use for the local substation through events like using plentiful energy from solar panels, scheduling EV charging and home batteries.
Calculate your rewards based on participation and performance.
Analyse feedback and survey responses to evaluate and improve the project. This data will be anonymised when included in research reports or publications.

Your energy consumption data may be processed using technology installed in your home for accurate data collection. This will include installing a Kiome Energy Management System in your home. Kiome is designed to help you visualise and optimise your energy use, integrate with smart technologies, and will enable you to participate in the Community DSO trial.
Data will be aggregated and anonymised at the conclusion of the project to ensure you cannot be identified in any published results.

Who Will Access Your Data
Where you consent to the processing of your personal data under the project, your personal data (raw, non-anonymised data) may be shared between the following project partners, as required for project delivery:

Northern Powergrid, trading as Northern Powergrid (Northeast) plc and Northern Powergrid (Yorkshire) plc
TNEI Services Ltd
Electric Corby CIC (trading as Electric Places)

Nodes AS
Smart Power Networks Ltd (trading as SMPnet)
EV Dot Energy Ltd (trading as ev.energy)
Cleanwatts Digital SA
Knaresborough Community Energy Limited

Some of the above partner companies above reside in the EU but are bound to comply with UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The provisions of the EU GDPR have been incorporated into UK law as the UK GDPR.
The project partners processing your personal data will also therefore rely on your consent to process your personal data under the project. You can withdraw your consent at any time during the project, by using the contact details provided below.

Anonymised data may also be shared with third parties and published, including outside the European Union, in accordance with GDPR requirements.
Anonymised survey responses may also be shared with project partners and included in publications, but participants will not be identifiable.

How Long Your Data Will Be Stored?
Your personal data will be securely stored for the duration of the project. After this period, any remaining data will be permanently deleted or fully anonymised.

Will the financial rewards continue after the trial ends?

By working together, the community should create on going value - helping the energy network run more smoothly and enabling residents to share locally generated clean energy at lower costs. We expect this value to support the community energy group and potentially provide ongoing financial rewards or other benefits for members after the trial ends. Participants can retain the free Kiome home energy system.

Community Energy Sharing Trial-Details and FAQs

Who and What is involved in the Trial?

What does participation involve?

What are the Financial Incentives to take part?