This project investigates the use of wireless power transmission (WPT) to enable quicker, more-flexible grid connections and overcome delays associated with installing traditional cabled infrastructure. This offers a rapidly deployable alternative for connecting new generation, demand, and interconnection assets, with applications ranging from generic grid reinforcement to remote communities, offshore renewables, temporary net zero construction, and emergency response.
Benefits for consumers include quicker access to clean, affordable electricity, reduced connection delays, and improved reliability. The project will assess technical feasibility, adoption barriers, and cost--benefit implications, building on prior DESNZ-funded research that demonstrated the viability of high-power WPT.
As GB warms due to climate change, uptake of Space Cooling (SC) is expected to increase significantly, leading to increased summer peak demands and greater network load for building comfort alongside the electrification of heat.
However, SC demand is currently poorly accounted for in distribution network planning using limited modelling. Additionally, SC's potential to provide flexibility has not been considered.
CoolDown will produce tools to enable network operators to understand the impact of SC at a local level. Trials of SC-tailored flexibility products will enable networks to mitigate adverse impacts, reduce network reinforcement requirements and optimise value for customers.
This project will explore how utility companies and highway authorities can better coordinate roadworks to reduce disruption, cut carbon emissions, and improve efficiency. Through stakeholder engagement, data analysis, and lessons from existing schemes, the Discovery Phase will assess the need and value of a new approach to identifying and enabling collaborative works. The aim is to reduce repeated excavations, shorten road closures, and improve public experience. While led by Cadent and NGED, the project is intended to benefit all utilities, local authorities, and the wider public by supporting a more joined-up, transparent, and environmentally responsible approach to essential infrastructure delivery.
Digital Twins are a vital tool for modernising, planning, and optimising energy operations. We propose a multi-faceted solution to transform interoperability, based on a foundational data model and cloud architecture, enabling secure linking of data across divisions and regions and from external data services.
Our project develops a first-of-a-kind digital twin within a DNO, creating for the first time:
* An internal data model for DNOs, taking learnings from the UKPN digital twin programme.
* An internal-external data model to enable DNO interoperability with external LAEP and transport forecasts.
* End-to-end integration of internal and external forecasts to deliver a dynamic digital twin use case within the East Midlands.
Road to Power responds to the unique challenges for decarbonisation of street works with 7.8TWh of energy demand is currently used per annum across 700,000 major works. Supplies need to support high, temporary, non-static demands with inflexible charging times. The uncertain electrification/ hydrogen conversion split for mobile machinery complicates forecasting and as the same machinery is used elsewhere the scope of Road to Power has been extended beyond street works. Discovery phase work has confirmed that stakeholders need a new tool to request temporary supplies that can make use of interruptible/ flexible connections and provide multiple options.
As Britain warms due to climate change, electrification of heat will mean increasing customer access to Space Cooling (SC) leading to increased summer peak demands. In current distribution network planning cooling demand is currently poorly accounted for and based on limited, high-level modelling. Additionally, cooling's potential to provide flexibility during periods of network stress has not been considered.
CoolDown will explore the impact of cooling on network capacity by producing improved uptake and demand projections as well as developing novel commercial arrangements to incentivise and unlock SC flexibility, reducing network reinforcement requirements and optimising value for customers.
Leicestershire CAN (Collaborate to Accelerate Net Zero): Demonstrator will create an environment for well-planned, deliverable, impactful place-based net zero interventions in Leicestershire, replicable to other LA areas.
Comprising 4 interconnected work packages, CAN-De will lay the foundations for successful delivery:
* Governance: Developing, piloting and evaluating models for good governance in Leicestershire, delivering the 6 governance principles identified in Phase 1, utilising an action and impact tracker to inform evaluation and refine approach, and drawing conclusions on replicability for other LA settings, amending the model for various use-cases.
* Decarbonisation Pathway Plan: Innovating within the LAEP framework to streamline delivery, model whole-system approaches to decarbonisation and incorporate the power of citizen landscaping to inform the energy system and create high levels of community engagement and social acceptance, de-risking and accelerating delivery. Outputs will be digitised in a dynamic tool for different audiences, with guidance on the innovation made available for replicability UK-wide.
* Community Energy Pathway: A 6-step process to develop community energy capacity across Leicestershire, combining engagement, mentoring, business development and a readiness fund to form a network of start-ups, informed by the DPP.
* Advisory Service: A central digital repository hosting a suite of resources, ensuring stakeholders have information and capabilities required to act, effectively communicating the outputs of CAN-De and signposting to simplify the support landscape.
CAN-De will be delivered by a consortium of local and national partners bringing academic, technical and delivery experience to create highly deliverable and replicable solutions. It will transform the trajectory of emissions reductions in Leicestershire, creating a self-sustaining model which is not reliant on future funding and can continue long after project completion.
The South Wales Industrial Cluster (SWIC) is a diverse mix of critical industry that have come together to collaboratively achieve common objectives for decarbonisation and clean growth delivering job security. The regions diverse industrial base presents both common and unique challenges. Sectors represented include steel/oil-refining/power/ paper/Nickel/insulation/chemicals/LNG import/Royal-Mint/general-manufacturing.
SWIC aims to progress a cluster plan driven by a vision of "developing a world leading truly sustainable industry befitting the societal needs of 2030, 2040, 2050 and beyond" incorporating a circular economy revolution leading to a smarter, greener, and healthier society.
SWIC's goal is NZC by 2040\. Current carbon emissions are 16MtCO2/y (5% of UK emissions), comprising 10MTCO2/y direct from industry and 6MTCO2/y from power generation. Achieving NZC will provide a significant contribution to the UK's goal of becoming net zero by 2050\. NZC must be realised in the broader context of 'People, Planet and Profit', achieving truly sustainable clean growth, within a globally competitive market, maintaining a growing, clean vibrant and diverse industrial sector region with potentially 40,000+ new jobs arising.
The Phase-2 work will continue to define NZC options for all types of members including two of the largest industrial UK CO2 emitters plus many other large emitting sites from diverse sectors spread across the whole region. Phase2 will identify the best low carbon energy options that will work for multiple industry users and define distinctive 'mini-clusters' in the region. This will inform and assist planning for significant local and regional infrastructure. The 4 coastal 'mini-clusters' will connect the largest CO2 emitters, creating opportunities for carbon capture and use in addition connections to UK carbon storage facilities. Low carbon energy infrastructure including renewables and hydrogen will also be developed. (Q3-appendix).
SWIC Plans centre around a 5 stepped approach to NZC, 5 spatial zone types will allow SWIC to take immediate steps toward NZC with a low chance of incurring "Regret Capital". As well as targeting a NZC cluster by 2040, this plan focuses on societal needs, circular economy and clean growth aspirations of the region, tackling the common and unique commercial & operational challenges facing SW industry.
SWIC will work with other UK cluster regions to optimise decarbonisation outcomes.
Specialist energy consultancy CR Plus are leading the project supported by a wide breadth 20+ key partners. Phase2 represents an opportunity to coalesce efforts, cement a direction and to further scope and define the action required to achieve the SWIC vision.
This innovative project will create a cleaner, lower cost energy system for Coventry and the West Midlands region which maximises economic opportunities in clean growth and future mobility, and is driven by customers. It will deliver local policy objectives, particularly energy cost and carbon targets set out by local authorities in response to the increasingly urgent climate emergencies recently declared across the country.
Our smart energy system detailed design is a revolutionary local market-making model which will effectively integrate new energy technologies (including low carbon vehicles and transport models, energy storage, locally-acceptable renewable energy technologies, carbon offsetting and energy efficiency) into the existing energy, transport and economic infrastructure of the region. We will work in partnership with the energy infrastructure providers (gas, heat, electricity, and transport), customers, and all local authorities and strategic planning authorities across the region. Customers will benefit from lower energy costs and increased local investment and jobs.
The project builds on existing working groups established in multiple Energy Innovation Zones (EIZs) across the region, and is led by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) through the established Energy Capital Partnership. Energy Innovation Zones encourage local ownership and engagement with this new business and operating model and effective access to highly location-specific opportunities. They provide an integrated context and engaged stakeholders and customers to support strategic network investment planning. The project will detail a smart design for Coventry and demonstrate the relevance of the approach to the wider region by replicating the approach for East Birmingham and North Solihull.
The focus of the project is on facilitating targeted smart energy system investment through a combination of strategic whole system design (investment planning) and close to real-time system optimisation. Citizens and customers will be able to explore the novel technologies and business models proposed as part of the design in a real-world demonstrator established on University of Warwick campus, a community of over 30,000 people.
The design will aim to use local price and value signals covering electricity, gas, and heat distribution network assets and work through an innovative capacity and flexibility trading mechanism (readily accessible to both demand and supply side market participants, including EVs and energy efficiency in buildings).
"There is increasing concern as to whether electricity infrastructures, from generation to distribution, will be able to support the widespread deployment of electric vehicles. EV charging loads are unprecedented, and early UK trials showed that widespread _uncontrolled_ EV charging could double peak loads on distribution networks (CLNR). As more car companies announce plans to focus on EV drivetrains, the ramping up of this charging load could be very rapid indeed, challenging the stability and security of the electricity grid. This could require costly upgrades to networks, that will ultimately be passed on to customers and could become a roadblock for selling EVs.
Controllable/dispatchable charging is an important first step but there are far greater market opportunities available if the full potential of the EV fleet is realised via Vehicle to Grid technology. The energy storage capacity of a future EV fleet would represent an energy asset of national significance. Studies by partners on this project have shown how EVs can stabilise grids, delay infrastructure investments, increase the deployment of variable Renewable Energy technologies on grids, reduce curtailment, lower grid carbon emissions, and provide low cost energy for driving, all without interrupting the service provided to the driver. The system flexibility provided by Vehicle to Grid (V2G) is vital to achieving these outcomes.
As of today, there remain significant gaps in knowledge on potential V2G markets and revenue streams, competition with other technologies, driver behaviour and response to V2G, and commercial arrangements and legislative constraints. This feasibility study will address these knowledge gaps by:
- Provide much needed insights on V2G markets and revenues longer term --focussing on derisking the sector by identifying the drivers for future markets (such as the deployment of Renewable energy technologies and reduction in grid inertia) and value (including competition from other sources of flexibility)
- Deep dive to identify and derisk the early market opportunities which provide nascent V2G sector the opportunity to learn by doing while generating sustainable revenues.
- A critical review of configurations of value chains and business models to identify those which perform well across dimensions including policy and regulation; market structures, and customer benefit.
- Show how a sustainable V2G sector can sustainably build up from early demonstration projects to playing a vital role as a flexibility provider in a more efficient and decarbonised energy system."