Six new innovation projects get funding to pave the way for smarter energy grids in the UK

Six new projects in the gas and electricity sector are being funded by Ofgem through its Network Innovation Competition. The projects include testing how ‘greener’ gas can be used on a university’s gas grid in Staffordshire, and investigating how advance software can assist in the more efficient use of locally-connected solar power.

Annually, Ofgem calls on network companies to compete for funding where they test new approaches and technology that will pave the way for smarter grids. In this year’s competition, Ofgem has agreed funding of £44.6m for six of the eight projects that entered – four for electricity and two for gas.

The winning projects involve:

• Examining what role hydrogen can play in gas networks by testing the use of natural gas blended with 10% to 20% hydrogen.
• Using cloud-based software to allow local communities to make more efficient use of locally-connected renewable energy.
• Using new types of circuit breakers to ease faults on the network which could help smaller generators connect in areas such as London.
• Testing whether small scale distribution-connected generators can provide services to the national network, such as voltage stability, that are traditionally offered by larger generators.
• Trialling new equipment which will regulate frequency and voltage on the grid in response to variable output from wind farms.
• Developing a new billing system to adapt to the next generation of gas sources on the networks.

For more information on the six winning projects funded by Ofgem, see full article.