Smart Secure Electricity Systems (SSES): Enabling Future Homes through Flexible Energy
Posted by: electime 6th November 2025
By Will Heinzelmann, Product Director at Passiv UK
As the UK moves toward the upcoming Future Homes Standard, it will become a requirement for new housing developments to be fitted with EV chargers, low-carbon heating systems and their own renewable generation from rooftop solar panels. These measures are essential for meeting our net zero ambitions. But while they promise a greener future, they also bring a practical challenge – our electricity networks are already under pressure, and grid capacity constraints are fast becoming the biggest barrier to delivering new homes.
Waiting years for major upgrades from Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) isn’t a viable option if we want to keep up with housing demand. That’s where flexible grid technologies come in. By reducing After Diversity Maximum Demand (ADMD) – essentially smoothing out the peaks of household energy use – these solutions can help more homes get connected sooner and at lower cost, without overloading the network.
The SSES Programme: A foundation for a smarter grid
Led by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), the Smart Secure Electricity Systems Programme (SSES) forms a cornerstone of the UK’s Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, which charts a path toward a fully decarbonised electricity system by 2030.
Under SSES, all heat pumps sold in the UK must be smart-enabled by default, and capable of responding dynamically to time-of-use tariffs and flexibility signals from the grid. This regulation represents a significant shift, embedding grid-interactive capabilities into the very fabric of domestic heating infrastructure.
SSES aligns closely with broader efforts to standardise Energy Smart Appliances (ESAs) and create a secure, interoperable environment where devices can respond safely and reliably to grid signals. By integrating this smart functionality, homes become active participants in the energy system rather than passive consumers.
Compliance made practical
While some heat pumps already offer connected features, they often fall short of meeting the level of smart functionality required under SSES. To comply, manufacturers must ensure appliances can operate in line with time-of-use tariffs and shift energy consumption automatically according to flexibility signals.
Practical routes to compliance exist, including the use of smart controls such as the Passiv Smart Thermostat, the only thermostat designed specifically for heat pumps that meets SSES requirements. With the right tools, compliance doesn’t have to be complex or costly.
Download the white paper now here to ensure your organisation is prepared for compliance.
