Energy transition explained

Electric charge which changes direction periodically. Electricity grids around the world are based on AC rather than DC (direct current). 

An independent energy system that serves a specific local area, can use multiple sources of generation, renewable energy and storage, and is controlled by a software-based system. Microgrids can be used in a variety of locations e.g. to meet the energy requirements of islands that are not connected to a national grid, or sites such as universities, hospitals or industrial parks that have specific requirements or demand characteristics combined local generation.

A 3rd party intermediary that coordinates energy flows by increasing/decreasing demand to meet the technical requirements of the network. Aggregators signal their customers to modify their demand, in response to grid requirements and/or a market price signals, while optimising energy use on site and rewarding customers for making their electricity available.

Transfers heat from inside air to outside air when cooling, and vice versa when heating. An air conditioning unit is an air/air heat pump. 

Transfers heat from the outside air to water, producing hot water that heats your radiators or underfloor heating, or for sanitary use.

Ratio of the energy that a generator is capable to produce annually divided by the generator's nominal annual power output. Nuclear stations and fossil fuelled power stations have high availability factors (~90%) whereas renewable energy generators have lower factors due to the intermittency of their energy sources. Annual availability factor is higher or equal to the capacity factor.

Summary term for all types of electric appliances for heating, hot water or cooling - including heat pumps, storage heaters, direct electric heaters, domestic hot water heat pumps, electric 
instantaneous water heaters etc.

Electricity System Operator (ESO): the organisation that ensures reliable and secure delivery of electricity across a country. The ESO balances demand and supply at all times and ensure high voltage electricity is successfully transmitted from the generation points to the local distribution networks in order to meet the nation's energy needs. The ESO does not generate or sell electricity or own transmission network infrastructure.

A vehicle that uses an electric motor for propulsion. There are several types, including battery EVs, plug in hybrids and fuel cell vehicles.

A device that creates hydrogen. It uses electrical energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen.

A company that provides energy solutions including designs and implementation of energy savings projects, retrofitting, energy conservation, energy infrastructure outsourcing, power generation and energy supply, and risk management.

The capture of energy produced at one time for use at a later time, typically to reduce imbalances between energy demand and energy production. Storage for electricity has been challenging in comparison to commodities such as oil and gas, but it has become more viable in recent years as battery costs have fallen significantly.