Enabling Demand-Side Flexibility in Residential Communities using Low-Carbon Technologies

To address these challenges, this paper investigates a hybrid energy system combining photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) collectors with a GSHP operating on a shared ground loop. The

PVT array serves a dual function: producing electricity to offset household grid imports and providing thermal support by preheating the working fluid entering the GSHP. This integrated design enables both load reduction and controllable flexibility. To assess these attributes, a small residential community in Neath Port Talbot, Swansea Bay City Region, Wales, United

Kingdom, representative of many semi-urban communities undergoing low-carbon energy retrofits, was selected via a geological screening process.

A dynamic modelling framework was developed to evaluate the performance of the PVT-GSHP system under realistic operating conditions. Comparative simulations were conducted for configurations with and without PVT integration. Results show that, compared to a GSHP-only system, the integrated PVT-GSHP configuration reduces peak electricity demand particularly during high-load periods. This behaviour demonstrates the system’s capability to provide demand-side flexibility by mitigating grid imports at peak times.

The findings in this work provide insights for distribution system operators, demonstrating the potential of integrated thermal-electric systems to reduce grid stress, support active network operation and defer costly infrastructure upgrades. While the adoption of such integrated technologies is driven by end-users and policy, the results show that their integration may positively influence network loading and flexibility. The presented methodology is transferable to other clustered residential developments and supports the broader objective of developing scalable, low-carbon flexibility solutions for future distribution networks.