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A new report published today from the Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform department sets out the Government's preliminary view of this developing technology's potential.

The super green kitchen goods would have small electronic controllers installed to track peak times on the electricity grid, helping to reduce demand. This could provide a more stable and efficient grid, removing some of the barriers to more renewable electricity generation in the UK which is variable in nature.

Energy minister Malcolm Wicks said:
"It is very early days and we don't want to overstate it but dynamic demand does merit further research. As well as increasing the efficiency of our grid network it could ultimately prove to be an innovative tool in reducing our greenhouse gas emissions and fighting climate change."

National Grid Chief Executive Steve Holliday said:
"National Grid is constantly looking for innovative ways to use our energy networks to tackle climate change and ensure security of energy supply. Dynamic demand is an exciting possibility for the future which we are already looking at, which could help us manage peaks in energy consumption, reduce emissions and support the use of variable renewable energy sources such as wind power. We are looking forward to working with BERR on this important project."

Joe Short, Director of Dynamic Demand (a not-for-profit organisation promoting Dynamic Demand technology, but not a technology producer), said:
"We are delighted the Government has decided to explore the potential of dynamic demand technology. The UK's fridges and freezers could one day become a valuable energy-storage system for the grid, acting like a big battery, able to defer hundreds of megawatts of power-demand for an hour or more. If you consider the levels of wind power we shall need in order to tackle climate change, dynamic demand could play a key role in helping to stabilise the power grids of the future. The research the Government has announced today will tell us exactly what carbon savings may result and therefore what financial incentives providers of the technology, such as appliance manufacturers, can expect in the future. Today's announcement of research funding from government is a vital next step for dynamic demand."

The commitment to look further into dynamic demand was enshrined in Clause 18 of the Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Act (June 2006). The Government agreed to report on:

• the contribution that is capable of being made by dynamic demand technologies to reducing emissions of greenhouse gases in Great Britain.
• whether it is appropriate to take any steps to promote the use of such technologies, and, if it is, what those steps are.
• any matters which would prohibit or inhibit the use of any dynamic demand technology.

The report states that minister's recognise the possibilities of dynamic demand, particularly the emission reduction benefits, and have asked for further research to be undertaken. The work will also focus on any potential barriers to its deployment. A further report will then be issued in the summer of 2008.