UK to Test 3,000 Smart Refrigerators

The UK and a company called RLtec have initiated a pilot program to test 3,000 smart refrigerators that will have adjustable power to match the needs of the grid. The utility could adjust each refrigerator very slightly (like one degree). If everyone's appliance had this capability there would be a significant demand reduction system wide without a noticeable change in your home. The pilot program will be able to test what kind of impact this could have on a larger scale.

The program is very similar to efficiency programs that some utilities have began to use on household air conditioners. In these cases, the utility would install a switch onto your central air conditioner that would allow the utility to cycle your unit on and off over a period of high demand.

The goal of these programs is to reduce the peak demand that puts strain onto the system grid. Lowering usage during these periods has a significant impact on the price of electricity throughout the region over the course of an entire year.

In the case of Power Smart Pricing those times correlate to the highest summer prices. As participants, your actions during high price times have the same effect. While it is easier to turn off or manage your air conditioner and other electrical appliances, it does not make much sense to turn your refrigerator off. Having a system that could control everyone's refrigerator to adjust its demand by small amounts would reduce the system peak load without spoiling your dinner.

In the US, GE is developing a model with this capability to be out sometime in 2009.