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Get involved in the the trial!!
Exciting news: Humshaugh has been chosen to be part of one of four UK innovative energy trials! Over the next 12 months, our village will help shape the future of local electricity supply. There are many ways to get involved, and we’d love for you to be part of it.
What's it all about?
We are finding out how our community uses electricity, and what would be involved to manage it better, as demand increases. To do so, we are trialing new Home Energy Management Systems (HEMS) in homes and businesses to develop innovative ways of controlling electricity use to save money, improve resilience and reduce
The trial and how you get involved
Why are we doing the trial?
Why are we doing the trial?
Why are we doing the trial?
• Electricity demand is increasing dramatically due to the expanding use of electric vehicles and heat pumps. This trend will accelerate over the coming years, putting increasing strain on the national and local electricity grids.
• This trial will increase our understanding of how smart controllers can help manage local electricity demand and potentially reduce the need for new electricity lines and substations, which will help keep energy costs down in the future.
Why get involved?
Why are we doing the trial?
Why are we doing the trial?
• Join the trial to discover how we can better control, generate, store, and share electricity at the local level.
• Help pave the way to address climate change.
• Be rewarded for taking part with monthly incentives, such as vouchers redeemable in major supermarkets.
What is involved in taking part?
Who can be involved in the trial?
Who can be involved in the trial?
Who can be involved in the trial?
• Everyone living in Humshaugh Parish, whether in social housing, rented accommodation, or their own home, is welcome to learn about the project and follow its progress.
• If you would like to participate in the project, the HELM team will explain ways you can contribute and will support you throughout the trial.
What is involved in taking part?
Who can be involved in the trial?
Who can be involved in the trial?
- By joining the HELM trial, you’ll let us securely track your home’s electricity use for a year. This will help us find smarter ways to manage electricity and in due course reduce costs.
- The information on your electricity usage gathered will be anonymised to protect your privacy,[BG1] .
- Additionally, you can opt to have some appliances, such as heat pump, EV charger, solar system, battery, and domestic appliances adjusted or switched on and off to automatically manage the grid demand locally. You will be able to override the automatic control at any time.
- The HEMS will be installed in your home for the duration of the trial.
- You can withdraw from the project at any time.
Trial Partners
Humshaugh Net Zero
A community-driven Community Interest Company (CIC) established in 2020 by residents of the parish of Humshaugh in Northumberland. Their mission: to achieve net-zero carbon emissions across the parish by 2030
Ricardo
A provider of Energy and Environmental Consultancy services.
Entrust Microgrid
Entrust Microgrid
A provider of smasrt microgrid and energy management system for homes, businesses and communities
Contact Us
Humshaugh Net Zero
Frequently Asked Questions
Please reach us at action@humshaughnetzero.org if you cannot find an answer to your question.
We are hoping that all residents can be modelled.
You will always be able to use your electricity as you want.
Based on your participant survey, a member of the project team will be in touch if your energy tariff may be affected.
The household will have full access to their energy consumption data gathered by EnSMART through the app. The project team will also access this data throughout the trial. The anonymsed data will be collated with other trial participants' data and reported to NPg for their experts to analyse and understand how best to reduce peak load.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please reach us at trial@humshaughnetzero.org if you cannot find an answer to your question.
Humshaugh was chosen because it is a great example of a typical countryside village in the area where Northern Powergrid works. This makes it the perfect place to try out a new, smarter way of managing energy in a community.
This trial runs for 12 months from 1 October 2025 until 1 Otober 2026
Any kit used in the trial will be removed from all properties at the end of the 12-month period.
The aim of the trial is to gather real information on how a community uses electricity. We are trialling automatic controllers in homes and businesses to reduce the peak electricity demand on the local grid.
The benefits of the trial are to:
- Manage our local electricity use better
- Improve the resilience of the local electricity supply
- Help tackle the climate emergency
There are no associated costs to the householder as part of this trial.
No, the kit will not contribute to an increase to your bills during this trial period.
Yes. If you get a new appliance or low-carbon technology (like solar panels or an electric vehicle charger), let us know. If you agree and it’s compatible, we’ll connect it to the EnSMARTCTR home energy system.
We are looking to engage at least 100 properties in this trial.
Please inform the Community Supporters, and you will be withdrawn from the trial, and the kit will be removed.
You can find out more information on the trail at our website: humshaughnetzero.org/HELM
The trial aims to understand how we can bring together local renewable energy sources, batteries, EV chargers, heat pumps, and other smart energy technologies in homes and community buildings. The goal is to rely less on the national grid and make local energy use more efficient.
Local project team members from Humshaugh Net Zero will install the kit with the householder present at a convenient time.
Yes. A participant can withdraw from the trial at any stage. Please note that if a participant withdraws from the trial incentives will also stop.
Ricardo plc
Ricardo plc is a global strategic, environmental, and engineering consulting company. With over 100 years of engineering excellence in more than 20 countries, we provide exceptional levels of expertise in delivering innovative cross-sector sustainable outcomes to support energy transition and environmental services, together with safe and smart mobility. Our global team of consultants, environmental specialists, engineers and scientists solve the most complex and dynamic challenges to help achieve a safe and sustainable world. Visit www.ricardo.com
Humshaugh Net Zero CIC
Established in 2020, HNZ is a community-driven Community Interest Company (CIC), formed by residents of the parish of Humshaugh in Northumberland: their mission: to achieve net-zero carbon emissions across the parish by 2030. Humshaugh—a rural, off-grid community—faces unique energy challenges. HNZ stands out as a successful bottom-up climate initiative, showing how a small village can mobilize, innovate, and deliver impactful local solutions that significantly reduce carbon footprints. They also serve as an inspiring model for other communities, offering open access to their knowledge, findings, and history to help others replicate or adapt their approach. Visit Humshaugh Net Zero
Entrust Microgrid Ltd
Founded in December 2018, Entrust Microgrid has been pioneering smart microgrid technologies, focusing on development of smart hybrid DC- and AC-networked microgrids for the built environment. Entrust Microgrid has secured over £10 million grants/funds, contracts and investments, developing Entrust Smart Microgrid system solutions with integrated solar PV/BIPV, battery storage, EV charger and heat pump through smart energy management systems (EMS) for households, businesses and communities. Visit www.entrustmicrogrid.com
Northern Powergrid is the electricity distribution network operator for the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire. It delivers power safely and reliably to 8 million customers across 3.9 million homes and businesses through its network of more than 63,000 substations and 60,000 miles of overhead power lines and underground cables, spanning some 9,650 square miles. Northern Powergrid has a key role in creating and managing future energy systems that increasingly interact with customers and smart and low carbon technologies. This two minute video explains further who Northern Powergrid is. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sn4B3tH-9nI
If you are a tenant of one of the housing associations (Karbon, HomeGroup, Riverside), you do not need to inform your landlord. If you are a private tenant interested in being involved in this trial, please get in touch via trial@humshaughnetzero.org
Once the controller is installed, you don’t need to change anything.However, if you’d like advice on how you can reduce your energy use during the trial, speak to Humshaugh Net Zero for tips.
Yes, please reach out to your community supporter, and this can be arranged. Email: trial@humshaughnetzero.org) Phone: 07544 575140
The householder shouldn't need to interact with the kit as its controlled remotely. The kit should remain switched on for the duration of the trial.
The kit to be installed is called ENSMARTCTR HEMS (Humshaugh Energy Management System)
There is no foreseen impact on your WiFi speed.
The household will have full access to their energy consumption data gathered by EnSMART through the app. The project team will also access this data throughout the trial. The anonymsed data will be collated with other trial particpants' data and reported to NPg for their experts to analyse and understand how best to reduce peak load.
Humshaugh Net Zero representatives will collect necessary data for the purposes of installations, for example property address, smart meter information, solar panel make and model, etc. This will be stored in a secure database only accessible by project team. Personal data will not be shared with external parties. Data related to electricity usage will be anonymised and shared with NPg. Your written consent will be obtained for this.
The kit will not be able to switch off your electricity supply. Appliances and Low Carbon Technologies (LCTs) may be controlled by the EnSmartCTR HEMS, subject to your consent.
The equipment we installed is designed to CE standards. It is a prototype . We have already performed initial safety checks. We will only be using these devices during the period of the trial. We are responsible for its safe operation. We will closely monitor the devices. We are expecting that CE final certification will be finalised before the trial ends.