Northern Powergrid, the company responsible for the electricity network that powers everyday life for 8 million customers in the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire, has been awarded £650k in funding to explore five pioneering new innovation projects.
The projects are funded by energy network users and consumers, through the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF), an Ofgem programme managed in partnership with Innovate UK.
The funding will enable Northern Powergrid, together with its various project partners, to explore the feasibility of five ground-breaking, innovative ideas that have the potential to deliver significant benefits for UK energy networks and consumers.
Northern Powergrid’s SIF projects are:
- GridLink – a project that looks at how network operators can dynamically configure low voltage networks that deliver power to people’s homes and businesses, to enable more flexibility and low carbon technology connections.
- Fuel Cell Renewable Energy Equity (FREE) – exploring how fuel cell micro-CHP could be used in domestic premises, including those of vulnerable customers, to deliver increased reliability and resilience.
- Cross Vector Energy Hub – developing a multi-vector (gas and electricity) energy hub to increase network resilience and overall operating efficiency.
- Fractal Flow – a project with National Grid ESO that will unlock the full capabilities of grid assets.
- SANND (Scenario Analysis for Non-domestic Network Decarbonisation) – a new tool for network planners that will allow them to better forecast for future demand and develop energy networks accordingly.
Paul Glendinning, Northern Powergrid’s Director of Energy Systems said: “We’re delighted to have secured funding through the Strategic Innovation Fund once again. This award follows a £1.1m successful bid back in October and will allow us to advance five ambitious projects, with the potential to deliver real benefits for the customers and communities we serve.
“Our region is recognised as centre for innovative and collaborative thinking. At Northern Powergrid we’re committed to working with industry, innovators and our stakeholders to develop the solutions to net zero energy challenges and ensure that UK networks are fit for the future.”
Northern Powergrid is hosting its flagship Net Zero for the North Conference on 21 March at the iconic Baltic Centre for the Contemporary Art in Gateshead.
The network operator is also hosting a series of regional decarbonisation workshops to showcase some of its net zero focused innovation and investment programmes. Stakeholders will have the opportunity to meet their local contacts in customer service, local energy planning and connections at the workshops taking place during March and April, at locations across Northern Powergrid's operating area. For more information, visit engage.northernpowergrid.com/events/upcoming-events.
Have you checked out our Help & Advice directory, it may just have the answers that you're looking for.
