The Automatic Asset Registration (AAR) provides an opportunity to digitalise the energy system. AAR was initially conceived of by the Energy Data Taskforce and the Energy Digitalisation Taskforce who called for ‘the coordination of Asset Registration’ of Low Carbon Technologies (LCT).

The 2021 Smart Systems and Flexibility Plan and Energy Digitalisation Strategy outlined how government and Ofgem will deliver the flexibility and innovation needed for a Net Zero energy system.

The Energy Digitalisation Strategy included work on the Coordinated Asset Registration strategy for smaller scale assets (such as solar panels, electric vehicles, battery storage and heat pumps, which typically require registration by an installer). The Strategy outlined how government will work with industry to streamline the registration process for small-scale assets to improve data collection and therefore improve the visibility of these assets on the system.

The AAR programme is made up of 3 Phases:

• Phase 1 – Feasibility studies
• Phase 2 – Development
• Phase 3 – Pilot testing

The Challenge

The transition to a Net Zero energy system, and the associated uptake of low carbon technologies (LCTs), is transforming the energy landscape in Great Britain. These circumstances are presenting the industry with myriad opportunities as well as several challenges. Such challenges include that the uptake of LCTs is rapidly accelerating but at present there is a distinct and increasing lack of visibility of these energy assets.

Whilst registration with network companies is a legal requirement for some assets, it is understood that roughly 40% or less of new small-scale energy assets are currently visible to the networks. Many of those responsible for registering assets (e.g., consumers and installers) are unaware of their responsibilities, leading to complex and multiple registration processes. Where assets are notified, registration issues persist as the data is collected and held by multiple systems that do not speak to each other, resulting in incomplete datasets.

The accelerating rate of asset installation also presents a very real system problem for the network. This rapid uptake of LCTs is forecast to continue and will require the associated increasing volume of assets to be carefully managed to ensure system stability and supply is maintained.

The Solution

Phase One

Three consortiums undertook feasibility studies to scope possible solutions to the challenge as part of Phase One of the AAR project. Energy Systems Catapult partnered with software company GreenSync Pty Limited to develop an innovative solution to overcome the key barriers and enable new energy assets – smaller than 1 MW – such as solar PV, batteries, EV chargers and heat pumps to be automatically registered and visible to networks.

LCT Connect is made up of two key components, Automatic Asset Registration (AAR) and a Central Asset Register (CAR). The solution will be achieved by adapting and extending the already proven capabilities of GreenSync’s digital deX platform to the UK context with due consideration given to the relevant regulatory, technical and legislative requirements.

By leveraging the deX product that has already been deployed in Australia, the LCT Connect project will build on the significant investment and several years of effort in product development to date and enable at a minimum, 36 months of acceleration of the AAR and CAR deployment in GB.

The findings of the AAR Phase One project have been compiled by the Catapult and GreenSync into the ‘Feasibility Study’ report.

Phase Two

Phase 2 of the Automatic Asset Registration (AAR) Programme aims to support a project to develop a solution for AAR and an accompanying CAR.

The core project team, led by GreenSync and guided by Energy Systems Catapult’s regulatory advice, will be supported by a broad and diverse range of companies from across the energy sector. This includes LCT manufacturers, installers, distribution network operators, energy retailers and flexibility providers as well as cybersecurity specialists and innovators.

The LCT Connect solution that will be delivered in Phase Two consists of four key components:

1. Automated Asset Registration module is a software module with the capability to interact with the users registering a new or existing asset and/or applying for a change of ownership or technical parameters of an already registered asset. The AAR module will also be responsible for validation of the asset registration for which it will fetch dynamic asset information through deX. Once validation is completed and registration is confirmed, the AAR module will create an entry in the CAR.
2. Central Asset Register module is a “System of Record” module that will act as an intelligent data repository for all relevant data of a registered LCT. The CAR will not only receive entry creation requests from the AAR but will also, through the capabilities of deX, regularly monitor any changes or updates to registered assets and trigger updates to the CAR registry.
3. LCT Value-Add Services module is built on top of the capabilities required for successful automation of the AAR and CAR processes and provides the option for innovators to easily build-out their own applications utilising LCT Connect data and services.
4. The deX engine is a well-proven and stress tested engine. It provides a toolbox of processes and integration points with the vast majority of existing OEMs and is fundamental and foundational to the successful and rapid uptake of the AAR/CAR.

The project will also identify and assess sustainable commercial and operating models that will best support implementation in the GB energy system; and will seek input and insights from other stakeholders such as end ­consumers, local authorities and government institutions to explore the admissibility, regulation and policies, data privacy and other relevant requirements for building and managing a nationwide AAR and CAR solution.

Industry & Project Partners Panel 

On the 10 November, GreenSync and Energy Systems Catapult hosted the first Industry & Project Partners Panel (I&P) event for the AAR Phase Two Programme. The event, held in London at the Connected Places Catapult Urban Innovation Centre, consisted of a half-day session filled with presentations and panel discussions covering the development of the AAR programme with a look at both the technical solution and its policy and regulatory context.

In attendance were the project partners and key industry organisations such as the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), Ofgem, Octopus Energy, Data Communication Company (DCC), InstallHUB, MCS, UK Power Networks, Arup, Gemserv, Elexon and EV.Energy who engaged in discussions and talked about the benefits and insightful challenges with the presenters and panel members throughout the session.

During the first half of the session, an overview of the technical solution was demonstrated before delving into the first panel discussion. The dialogue covered important aspects and considerations such as the potential benefits of the AAR including the Central Asset Register (CAR), manufacturers’ incentives and data privacy and data standards concerns. Specific discussion points included:

• The importance of and approach to data privacy when marrying an MPAN with a specific address within AAR/CAR.
• The value AAR/CAR could bring to DNO’s long- and short-term energy forecasting abilities.
• AAR/CAR potential to provide customer assurance for their installations by providing information on an asset post installation (as MCS certification is currently a snapshot in time).
• The administrative burden AAR/CAR would be able to alleviate for industry actors and consumers to help support operations such as flexibility services.
• What a successful approach to the re-registration of existing assets to AAR/CAR could look like.

The policy and regulatory portion saw presentations which contextualised AAR within the UK’s energy digitalisation strategy and explored the policy and regulatory needs to encourage and incentivise the programme uptake. The following points were featured in the discussion:

• The use of Home Energy Management (HEM) systems as a potential route for asset registration.
• The challenges faced unlocking certain use cases for AAR/CAR due to current policy.
• The need for independent governance of AAR/CAR.
• The use of appropriate data standards for AAR/CAR.
• How to build consumer trust in the AAR/CAR project.

Second Industry and Project Partners Panel

29^th February marks another successful milestone for the AAR Programme. GreenSync hosted the second Industry and Project Partners Panel (I&3P) event at the Catapult’s Birmingham office. Projects partners Vaillant, ev.energy, InstallHUB, Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS), Data Communication Company (DCC) and SMA and key industry organisations including the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), Ofgem, National Grid, Elexon, gemserv, ElectraLink, geotogether, Electron and SSEN attended.

This second half day session on the AAR Programme was centred around reviewing and discussing the installation policy and regulatory levers as well as the data enablers that jointly would enable the commercialisation of the AAR/CAR solution.

During the first half of the session, the current projects and programmes interlinked with AAR were presented in a roadmap where Ofgem’s Flexibility Digital Infrastructure (FDI) and DESNZ’s Flex Market Unlocked Programme were highlighted as the main alignments with AAR for 2024.

As a key remark, an update of the Clean Heat Market Mechanism was presented by Vaillant’s Technology and Training Director Mark Wilkins which showed the new opportunities the AAR Programme brings with the simplification of the LCTs’ installation and registration to support the overall UK energy Net Zero targets.

In the second half of the event, a panel session was held with representatives from MCS, ElectraLink, DCC and gemserv. The dialogue covered important key lessons learned by these organisations in developing, deploying and operating similar solutions to AAR/CAR.

Key takeaways included:

• Stay flexible by ensuring the AAR technology and governance regimens are accountable of changes and remain flexible to adapt to future unknown use cases.
• The need for AAR/CAR is clear, but a level of investment from beneficiaries (such as DESNZ, Ofgem, DNOs) would be needed after the innovation funding ends to scale up and commercialise.
• AAR/CAR should be designed and built to remain stable and flexible with regards to the Added-Value piece such as Flexibility Services.

Last but not least, early insights to a customer research survey sent to the Living Lab participants (approximately 2,500 households across the entire UK) were presented. This approach allowed the team to test for the first time the AAR/CAR solution with consumers.

The aim of the survey was to understand:

• how people feel about such a register being created;
• whether people would be willing for their assets to be registered and
• what would motivate people to consider registering their assets.

From the almost 400 responses received, 85% were positive to the idea of registering their LCTs into a platform like AAR/CAR. This shows the agreement of UK citizens of having and subscribing to such a solution and support the energy market to transition to a more digital and greener world.