STACS Smart Technology and Community Support

04c30db0-f76b-4333-811c-2ee95517a2ec

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Innovate UK
Innovate UK
Innovate UK
Innovate UK
Innovate UK

£249,990

May 31, 2020

March 31, 2021

STACS Smart Technology and Community Support is a Project being undertaken by iPower Energy Ltd, with Solo Energy Ltd and Connected Response Ltd providing support as sub-contractors

The STACS project will develop and test the provision of alerts and other connectivity services for low income and vulnerable households as complementary additions to smart energy management projects. The developed alert service will raise an alert when there is a shift from typical electricity load patterns within a vulnerable household, such as if there is not the usual increase in electricity use in the morning as a kettle is put on etc. Whilst this may or may not be a cause for concern, a simple alert provided to a relevant person can enable them to check the situation.

The project will also develop and evaluate connectivity options for smart energy projects in low income communities with the aim of incorporating low cost connectivity for the household, alongside the connectivity required for the smart energy project.

STACS contributes though enhancing inclusive digital connectivity and smart home-based alert services to meet societal needs for community support services, healthcare, social care, wellbeing, education and entertainment, especially at times of global disruption. The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) has highlighted the problem that "digital connectivity will quickly become a lifeline for our most vulnerable people in the COVID-19 emergency." However, in the most vulnerable populations, many people do not have access to digital services.

By building on smart home-based energy services for low income households, for which a good business case and funded solution can already be made for many vulnerable households, additional alert services and other digital connectivity services can be provisioned at low marginal cost. In addition, our energy services themselves contribute to addressing significant incidence of under-heating which itself adds to the vulnerability of many households.

Additional funding via Extension for Impact will help achieve additional impact by preparing a business case for a specific deployment in a set of social landlord properties and further development of the technical solution.