A new research consortium and funding for business-led innovation
projects will speed up the uptake of smart energy systems by
local communities to start benefiting from cleaner, cheaper and
more consumer-friendly energy.
Funding is by UK Research and
Innovation through the Industrial Strategy
Challenge Fund for clean energy – a £102.5 million
investment in UK industry and research to develop systems that
support the global move to renewables.
Rolled out by 2020s
Twelve projects from all across the UK will share £1.5 million to
design ground-breaking, local, smart energy systems that are
ready for roll out in the 2020s.
They will quickly bring forward energy systems with improved
efficiency and productivity, at lower costs, in order to reduce
energy bills for consumers and create better user experiences.
Ultimately this should help improve air quality in line with the
government’s fifth carbon budget,
at the same time as building the UK’s energy supply chain,
creating high value jobs and export opportunities.
Projects include:
- creating an energy marketplace and local trading platform
between the predominantly commercial premises in London South
Bank and Waterloo, using IoT sensors, predictive algorithms and
storage systems
- maximising existing and planned renewable generation assets
in Bridgend, including solar farms and a nearby energy park, to
develop a local electricity flexibility market, an electric
vehicle charging network and improved service offerings for
transport and heat
- making use of an established energy innovation district group
and new digital technologies, such as sensing and control
devices, data analytics and artificial intelligence, the Cheshire
Energy Hub will better manage energy use by industrial users,
decarbonise and lower costs
Developing novel research concepts
To bring forward novel research in local energy systems and
accelerate uptake, value and impact, £8 million will go to
setting up EnergyREV, an energy revolution research consortium.
The consortium will be led by the University of
Strathclyde and include 29 investigators across 22
universities, working to ensure that UK academic expertise
delivers impact and a competitive advantage.
It will work closely with the Energy Systems
Catapult to provide analysis, evaluation and assessment
of the projects funded under the prospering from the energy
revolution challenge.
Additionally, EnergyREV will deliver its own strategic research
projects that address some of the industrial challenges in
developing local, investable, consumer-centred energy approaches.
Improving uptake, value and impact
Professor Stephen McArthur, Deputy Associate Principal for
Research, Knowledge Exchange and Innovation, at the University of
Strathclyde said:
EnergyREV is excited about its role in supporting innovation in
the prospering from the energy revolution programme.
The world-class knowledge, research teams and interdisciplinary
expertise available through our university partnership will
improve the uptake, value and impact of smart local energy
systems.
We are focused on using our novel research to accelerate and
help deliver the Industrial Strategy goals and enhance UK
competitiveness.
Rob Saunders, Deputy Challenge Director, Prospering from the
Energy Revolution, UK Research and Innovation said:
This is an exciting time for energy innovations.
We all rely on energy and we all need it to be cleaner and more
cheaper, both as consumers and as a nation. New technologies
point towards a new energy future, one of lower carbon and more
efficient energy supply, distribution and storage, giving
consumers more control.
This energy revolution – a crucial part of the Industrial
Strategy – has the potential to unlock investment and create
high-quality jobs and grow companies capable of exporting.
