Member Article

Feasibility studies to investigate future energy provision

Feasibility studies led by innovative small companies will stimulate innovation in power distribution and management of demand are to share government funding of £2m.

30 studies will receive the funding from the Technology Strategy Board to conduct the first, exploratory phase of a new four-year programme to develop technologies to build a resilient energy system.

All led by SMEs, the studies will demonstrate innovation in component design, software, demand side management, integrated systems and novel business or operational models.

It seeks to address the challenge of building interdisciplinary supply chains and will focus on applied research to develop products from energy storage, through to ‘virtual power plants’ and network infrastructure.

Applied R&D will also underpin and build on other energy related programmes at the TSB, and those of the organisation’s partners across in electric transport, offshore renewables and grids.

Iain Gray, Chief Executive of the Technology Strategy Board, said: “If we are to truly move towards a more sustainable energy system, then we must take a systems approach where the business opportunity will be to integrate security, resilience and flexibility into the energy grid.

“We believe the Technology Strategy Board has a role to play in bringing different disciplines and markets together to ensure UK business benefits from these opportunities.”

All of the studies will deliver a tangible outcomes, including components, systems and business models.

They will also demonstrate how their idea can reduce the costs of network reinforcement and upgrades associated with decarbonisation of power networks.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .