Smart meters are an integral part of a flexible, decentralised and decarbonised energy system, which is central to Britain reducing its CO2 emissions and reliance on unsustainable energy sources.
As the central component of a digitalised smarter energy system, smart metering will facilitate better integration of renewable power and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, through efficiently managing energy supply and demand by using near-real time energy data.
Without smart meters and the national rollout, carbon reductions will be higher cost, less reliant on renewable generation, and less well co-ordinated – this will result in slower progress towards saving CO2, greater reliance on higher risk CO2 reduction strategies/technologies, and ultimately a higher risk of not achieving mitigation targets
With future demands for electricity only set to increase through the electrification of transport and heat, it has never been more important to upgrade Britain’s energy system to one that is more sustainable and less reliant on non-renewable fuel sources. Smart meters are a vital step towards this change and a means to creating a decarbonised system fit for the 21st century.