Talking New Energy: CrowdFlex - Can home EV charging actually deliver grid flexibility at scale?

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In this episode, Jon Ferris speaks to Cathy Fraser, Head of Market Requirements at National Energy System Operator, and Daniel Norton, Commercial Director at Ohme. Together, they reflect on the findings and lessons from CrowdFlex: the UK's largest ever domestic energy flexibility trial.

We discuss:

• What CrowdFlex set out to test and what actually motivated consumers to shift their energy use.
• How a simple "plug in more often" message drove a 40% increase in EV plug-in sessions and why habit formation matters as much as financial reward.
• What NESO learned about coordinating consumer flexibility at scale, and what it will take to meet the UK's Clean Power 2030 targets.

What’s one thing you would like listeners to take away from this?

• Demand-side flexibility can help balance a renewable-heavy grid and lower bills for everyone, but only if the whole industry works together to make it simple for ordinary consumers, not just early adopters.