Interoperable Demand Side Response programme: successful projects
Source: gov.uk (2025-12-03)

This programme funded the development and testing of energy smart appliances and energy management systems for interoperable demand side response.

The Interoperable Demand Side Response programme ran from 2022 to 2025. Details of the competition guidance and tender can be found here:

[Withdrawn] Interoperable Demand Side Response programme: Stream 1 (closed to applications) (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/interoperable-demand-side-response-programme-apply-for-stream-1-opportunities)

[Withdrawn] Interoperable Demand Side Response programme: Stream 2 (closed to applications) (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/interoperable-demand-side-response-programme-apply-for-stream-2-opportunities)

[Withdrawn] Interoperable Demand Side Response programme: Stream 3 (closed to applications) (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/interoperable-demand-side-response-programme-apply-for-stream-3-opportunities)

Flexibility Innovation Programme: Laboratory testing and demonstration of interoperable DSR applications in settings indicative of the real world (https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003319-2022?origin=SearchResults&p=7855)

The programme committed £13.9 million to support the innovation, design, and demonstration of interoperable demand side response systems. These systems included energy smart appliances (ESAs) and Demand Side Response Service Providers (DSRSPs).

Projects funded by the programme helped to:
- develop energy smart appliances and energy management systems for interoperable demand side response following Publicly Accessible Standards (PAS) 1878 and 1879
- provide valuable feedback on PAS 1878 and 1879 for their revision
Programme structure

The programme consisted of 3 streams of work and 2 testing delivery partners. See details of the funded projects: Interoperable Demand Side Response Programme: projects Streams 1-3 and testing delivery partners (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/interoperable-demand-side-response-programme-successful-projects/interoperable-demand-side-response-programme-successful-projects).

Stream 1: over £7.2 million of funding for projects to design and develop Demand Side Response (DSR) and energy management systems in accordance with the PAS 1878 and 1879 standards. Communication between the ESA and DSRSPs were via public comms networks and home networks.

Stream 2: over £2.3 million of funding for projects to design and develop Demand Side Response (DSR) and energy management systems in accordance with the PAS 1878 and 1879 standards. In contrast to Stream 1, communication between the ESAs and DSRSPs was via the GB smart metering system.

Stream 3: over £80,000 of funding for projects to undertake feasibility assessment to understand the different functional and technical options available to create interoperable domestic energy management system.

Testing delivery partners: over £5.2 million of funding for the testing delivery partners to test the projects developed by Stream 1 and observe demonstrations of the systems developed by Stream 2.
- Lot 1: Lot 1 performed laboratory-based testing on the systems to see how well they performed and how closely they conformed with PAS 1878 and 1879.
- Lot 2: Lot 2 performed demonstrations in a setting indicative of the real world, where multiple ESAs from different projects were all connected to a single DSRSP at the same time.
Programme Completion

The Interoperable Demand Side Response programme concluded end of February 2025. Stream 1 funded six projects, Stream 2 funded two projects, and Stream 3 funded three feasibility studies. Two testing delivery partners were funded. Some interoperable demand side response between the Stream 1 projects was demonstrated by the testing delivery partners.

Final project reports
- Laboratory-based testing report (Lot 1) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69304eb40cf0b7e681ff41a9/IDSR-S4-lot-1-final-report.pdf)
- Real-world demonstrations report (Lot 2) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69304ed7502f392086ee8b54/02-R-149-IDSR-final-report.pdf)
The results from the programme informed the development and revision of the PAS 1878 and 1879 standards.

The programme formed part of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s wider innovation portfolio, supporting the transition to net zero by developing interoperable systems capable of delivering demand side response.

Background

The 2021 Smart Systems and Flexibility Plan (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/transitioning-to-a-net-zero-energy-system-smart-systems-and-flexibility-plan-2021) set out a suite of policies to enable flexibility from consumers, known as ‘demand side response’. Consumers will need access to ’energy smart’ appliances that make it easier to change their consumption patterns, alongside tariffs and services that incentivise this change.

Interoperability of energy smart appliances will enable consumers to access different propositions for demand side response, either earning revenue or reducing costs through providing value to the energy system. Increased uptake of demand side response will reduce the costs of decarbonisation, reducing bills for all consumers.

As part of this, the government committed to taking powers to set regulatory requirements for ‘energy smart’ appliances, guided by the core principles of interoperability, data privacy, cyber security, and grid stability.