Some people are hoping to get their hands on Octopus Energy’s bright pink, palm-sized Home Mini device because it could help UK customers monitor and manage their energy use.
Made in the UK from recycled plastic, Octopus Energy’s Home Mini is an in-home display (IHD) that, according to the company’s website, has been installed in over 100,000 homes in just 18 months.
An IHD is a small electronic screen that connects wirelessly to your smart gas and electricity meters and gives users instant feedback on their energy usage. An IHD should not be confused with a home energy monitor, which displays and analyses energy usage over time.
Unlike other IHDs, Home Mini connects directly to a smartphone, allowing users to manage their electricity bills through the Octopus app.
The Home Mini connects to the user’s smart meters, collecting data every 10 seconds and providing real-time insights into the household’s electricity usage. This means users can see their energy costs instantly and make informed decisions about their energy consumption.
Octopus Energy’s goal is to simplify energy management and make it easier for users to reduce their consumption and save money with the Home Mini.
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Derya Robinson, senior engineer at Octopus Energy, described the device as a “groundbreaking innovation” in residential energy management technology using British technology, according to the company’s website.
Robinson added: “Demand for it is huge – tens of thousands are already excited by its user-friendly design. We are now accelerating the launch so that anyone who wants one can get one easily.”
The Home Mini was developed in-house and is designed to give customers more control over their energy consumption. Demand has been huge, prompting Octopus Energy to increase production to 20,000 units per month from July 2024.
Octopus Energy has given its customers more energy by rewarding those who shift their energy consumption to off-peak times (so-called ‘saving sessions’ and smart tariffs).
According to Renewable Energy Magazine, customers have already saved over £100 million (around $126.8 million) by using the Home Mini.
In June 2024, British company Octopus Energy entered the US renewable energy market, acquiring two solar farms in Ohio and one in Pennsylvania. However, there is no information on when the Home Mini will be available to US customers. According to Reuters, the company plans to invest $2 billion in the US renewable energy market by 2030.
Elsewhere in the UK, Octopus Energy – which has received a funding boost – has opened the Kraken Tech Centre, the country’s first energy technology superhub.
Furthermore, the launch of the Home Mini across the UK represents a significant step towards a smarter and more sustainable future.
“It’s pink. It’s small. It gives instant power readings,” one Redditor commented on a thread with reviews of the product.
“It’s much more useful than a home screen,” added another.
“It allows you to make more informed decisions about your energy consumption,” said Spectrum Geeks on YouTube.
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