About Nesta

Nesta is an innovation foundation. For us, innovation means turning bold ideas into reality and changing lives for the better. We use our expertise, skills and funding in areas where there are big challenges facing society.

Exploring how households can support a lower-carbon grid by shifting the energy demand of their heat pump away from peak times.

This project explored how households can support a lower-carbon grid by shifting the energy demand of their heat pump away from peak times. We developed an intervention aimed at shifting heat pump consumption away from times when the electricity grid is most in demand. We found that our intervention was able to reduce household consumption while maintaining comfortable home temperatures. We also found that householders showed strong support for automated energy-saving measures, highlighting the potential for heat pump flexibility in future net-zero energy systems. It was a collaboration between Nesta and Centre for Net Zero (CNZ) – an impact-driven research unit, founded by Octopus Energy.

Team

Andrew Schein

Andrew Schein

Andrew Schein

Lead Behavioural Scientist, sustainable future mission

Andrew was the lead behavioural scientist for Nesta's sustainable future mission.

View profile
Oli Berry

Oli Berry

Oli Berry

Lead Behavioural Scientist, sustainable future mission

Oli is the Lead Behavioural Scientist for the sustainable future mission, where he uses behavioural science to help accelerate the decarbonisation of household heating in the UK.

View profile
Davinia Kiley

Davinia Kiley

Davinia Kiley

Programme Manager, sustainable future mission

Davinia is the programme manager for Nesta's sustainable future mission.

View profile
Katy King

Katy King

Katy King

Deputy Director, sustainable future mission

Katy is deputy director on Nesta's mission to create a sustainable future, which focuses on decarbonisation and economic recovery.

View profile
Andy Marsden

Andy Marsden

Andy Marsden

Design Lead, Design & Technology

He/Him

Andy Marsden works as a Design Lead at Nesta.

View profile
Andy Regan

Andy Regan

Andy Regan

Head of Nesta Cymru

Andy leads Nesta’s work in Wales, with a particular focus on influencing devolved policy around our missions, and promoting the use of applied innovation in policy making.

View profile
Max Woollard

Max Woollard

Max Woollard

Analyst, sustainable future mission

Max joins Nesta as an analyst in the sustainable future mission.

View profile