The FlexTalk Seed Project is a collaboration between the Electricity Engineers Association and the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority. It was created to explore how smart devices in real homes can support demand flexibility in New Zealand. Much of the insight comes from the FlexTalk Seed Project Report 2025, which outlined the findings from the trial.
Cortexo served as the technical lead. We provided the software, device integrations and the connection between OpenADR and the smart technologies tested. We are sharing this article to help the sector understand the key insights from the trial and what they mean for the future of flexible energy in New Zealand.
The project builds on the earlier FlexTalk Demand Flexibility Common Communications Protocol Project from 2024, which explored open communication between flexibility suppliers and end use devices. The Seed Project moves this work from concept to practical testing.
Over five months, smart devices including home energy management systems, hot water control and air conditioning monitoring were installed in ten homes. Remote signals were sent to control these devices and gather feedback from participants.
Key findings:
The FlexTalk Seed Project confirms that demand flexibility in New Zealand homes is technically feasible with minimal disruption. The next step is to scale deployment using the lessons learned on devices, connectivity, installation and customer experience.
The FlexTalk Seed Project is a small-scale, real-world trial of demand flexibility in New Zealand homes. Its purpose is to test how smart devices can be installed, connected and signalled to shift load without affecting comfort.
Cortexo led the technical delivery, providing the OpenADR platform and VTN/VEN connectivity that sits between flexibility suppliers and in-home devices.
The project:
The aim was to “learn by doing” and seed the knowledge needed for larger FlexTalk trials.
The FlexTalk Seed Project set out to:
Devices were installed in homes from Queenstown to Auckland, plus a dedicated test house at Ivory Egg’s showroom in West Auckland.
The map below highlights all participating locations across the country.
Demand flexibility is the ability for homes and businesses to adjust electricity use in response to prices, incentives or grid needs. It can be driven by automation, smart devices or behavioural change.
For New Zealand, demand flexibility supports:
As New Zealand moves toward a highly renewable electricity system, demand flexibility becomes critical. It helps match consumption with variable generation and keeps energy affordable and resilient.
Consumers now play an active role in the energy system. Home Energy Management Systems (HEMS) are a key enabler of this shift.
HEMS can:
The Seed Project tested HEMS alongside device-level control to see which approaches offer the best balance of flexibility, visibility and ease of deployment.
Cortexo provides the OpenADR platform and technical integration that connects smart devices to flexibility programmes. In the Seed Project, Cortexo:
This work builds on earlier FlexTalk activity, where Cortexo helped test New Zealand-specific communication between electricity distribution businesses, flexibility suppliers and end-use devices.
The Seed Project tested a range of well-established smart-energy products chosen for their reliability, open-protocol support and suitability for managing hot water and air-conditioning loads. The EEA Seed Project Report highlights the following insights:
Performed well for hot water control and power monitoring. They were chosen for their strong reputation, high functionality, and ease of installation in both New Zealand and international markets.
Provided reliable wired control and accurate two-way feedback from multiple AC brands. Infrared control was used only where wired options were not available.
It showed strong potential for larger residential and commercial deployments, especially where broader building-management capability (e.g., KNX, Modbus, BACnet) was useful.
Demonstrated good OpenADR capability and has proven performance in other international markets. In the Seed Project, commissioning required extra steps when working with currently available New Zealand product combinations. The technology still shows promise, and further refinement could support simpler deployment in future phases.
The project tested several connection paths to the Cortexo VTN, including:
Direct MQTT-based connections were the most stable and scalable, reducing reliance on any single manufacturer’s cloud.
Customer feedback was strongly positive:
The project confirms that, when designed well, demand flexibility events can run in the background with little or no effect on daily life.
The Seed Project was intentionally small, with only ten homes and a short signalling period. As a result:
Despite these limits, the project provides a strong foundation for larger FlexTalk trials and commercial flexibility services.
To move from pilots to large-scale deployment, the project recommends:
Cortexo actively participates in the following industry organisations.
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