The UK risks blowing its 2030 clean power goals unless homes and businesses get serious about flexible energy use, according to the Association for Decentralised Energy (ADE).
The report, Consumer-Led Clean Power, warns the current system treats consumers like passive bill-payers when they should be frontline players in balancing the grid.
Unlocking just 10GW of flexible demand – from EVs, heat pumps, solar panels and industrial kit – could free up the same capacity as 16 gas power stations.
ADE is calling for urgent reform to reward people for using power smartly.
That means earning money for charging when renewables are high or powering down when the grid’s under pressure.
The numbers stack up – households could save £115 a year by 2030 and up to £375 by 2040 just by shifting energy use.
Sarah Honan, Head of Policy at ADE: Demand, said: “The era of treating energy consumers as passive bill-payers is over. To hit clean power targets, we need every home and business to become an active player in our energy system – this will release the equivalent energy of 16 gas plants.”
But to get there, ADE says market rules need tearing up. Current regulations are still geared around fossil-fuel plants. Data is siloed. There’s no standardisation. Trust is low.
The report calls for a new Delivery Board led by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, plus a consumer flexibility Champion with real authority to drive targets, reform levies and unlock access to data.
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