The next of many future interviews with Supergen members that looks at the diverse challenges and solutions that face Energy Networks. Dr Robin Preece talks us through transitioning to Net Zero and all the challenges that we face.
We sit down with Dr Robin Preece, Reader in Future Power Systems within the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Manchester and Deputy Director of Supergen Energy Networks Hub. Dr Preece talks to us about the who, what, how and whys of transitioning our power systems and all the factors that could effect the decisions made.
To find out more about Dr Robin Preece and his work, click below:
In collaboration with National Energy Action (NEA) and the University of Salford, Caitlin Robinson (SEN CO’I) and Ed Atkins (University of Bristol), discuss the role of DNO’s in supporting vulnerable end-users who are disproportionally affected in an energy crisis.
In collaboration with One World at World Energy TV, Supergen is proud to release our brand new documentary. Highlighting the importance of collaboration in our mission towards Net-zero.
Featuring three industry partners at three different scales all working together with Supergen to find new solutions to low carbon energy. BDFI (Bristol Digital Futures Institute), Tyseley Energy Centre and Northern PowerGrid show the varied work being done across the nation. Click to see the amazing work of Supergens partners in the mission of reaching Net-zero.
“Pursuing Low Carbon Energy The race is on to develop sustainable, low carbon energy solutions to power our world.
At the forefront of this critical mission is the SUPERGEN Network – a pioneering research program bringing together top minds to tackle one of humanity’s greatest challenges.
This compelling documentary takes you behind the scenes with the brilliant scientists, engineers, and innovators who are Pursuing Low Carbon Energy. From cutting-edge laboratories to real-world field tests, you’ll witness their groundbreaking work on renewable technologies like solar, wind, marine, bioenergy, and more. Dive into their latest research breakthroughs and see how they are engineering a greener, cleaner energy future.
Whether developing next-generation solar cells, designing advanced wind turbine blades, or unlocking the power of the ocean’s waves, these experts are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. But it’s more than just technology.
The film also explores the economic, environmental, and social impacts of transitioning to low carbon energy systems on a global scale. Policymakers, industry leaders, and local communities weigh in on the challenges and opportunities ahead. Inspiring and insightful, Pursuing Low Carbon Energy offers a rare look at the remarkable efforts underway to reinvent how we keep the lights on and build a sustainable world for generations to come.
Don’t miss this powerful story of human ingenuity and scientific progress!”
The first of many future interviews with Supergen members looking at the diverse challenges and solutions that face Energy Networks.
We sit down with Dr Caitlin Robinson, Research Fellow and Proleptic lecturer in the School of Geography at the University of Bristol to talk about her involvement with Supergen Energy Networks.
Dr Robinson discusses, in this brand new interview, the Vulnerabilities that face energy networks today. Providing insight onto such topics as geographical challenges, policy making and the many impacts that face households nationwide.
To find out more about Dr Caitlin Robinson and her work, click below:
£20 million was recently awarded to the University of Birmingham via the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities for the National Centre for Decarbonisation of Heat (NCDH). The NCDH will be constructed at the Tyseley Energy Park, East Birmingham adjacent to the Birmingham Energy Innovation Centre. It is targeted at accelerating delivery in the domestic heating sector, particularly where there are high levels of fuel poverty and poor levels of energy efficiency as judged by EPC standards.
The Centre will act as a coordinating node for industry, local and combined authorities, academia, the third sector and community groups to aggregate learning through the delivery of at-scale housing retrofit programmes.
The University of Bristol led SEN hub, run in partnership with Leeds, Cardiff, Manchester, Bath, Birmingham and Newcastle Universities and Energy Systems Catapult, carries out highly impactful interdisciplinary research so that energy networks are not just enablers of the low carbon transition but are a driving force towards a rapid, safe and just transition to net zero.
Electricity, gas and heat networks are vitally important enablers for the UK energy sector and UK industry and society as a whole. However as technology and society evolves, planning, design and operation of energy networks need to be revisited and optimised to maximise impact.
SEN research will be strongly aligned with the Government’s Net Zero Research and Innovation Framework and feed directly into the Net Zero Delivery plan through its membership of the Net Zero Innovation Board.
Professor Philip Taylor, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise at the University of Bristol, and Head of the SEN Hub, said: “The global energy sector is facing considerable pressure arising from climate change, depletion of fossil fuels and geopolitical issues around the location of remaining fossil fuel reserves. Energy networks exist primarily to exploit and facilitate temporal and spatial diversity in energy production and use and to exploit economies of scale where they exist.
“The modernisation of energy networks’ technology, processes and governance is a necessity for the energy sector to be fit for the future. Good progress has been made in de-carbonisation in some areas but this has not been fast enough, widespread enough across vectors or sectors and not enough of the innovation is being deployed at scale. This project will accelerate the development, scale up the deployment and increase the impact delivered.”
Paul Beasley, Head of Research and Development UK at Siemens, one of the hubs largest industry partners said: “Siemens offer strong support for the Supergen Energy Networks Hub to tackle the global challenges within multi-vector networks, supply and demand activity in order to support real world solutions to achieve net zero in the future.
“We are particularly excited at the prospect of building on existing investments at many of these universities (ie Smart Grid Lab, Smart Campus living lab, etc) and combining the best UK universities on this strategic theme to deliver world class research.”
Johnson Fernandes, CEO & Founder at industry partner Equiwatt Ltd, added: “Absolutely thrilled to hear about the continued support from EPSRC for the Supergen Energy Networks Hub. I am certain the SEN hub will continue to impact more innovative technologies and early stage ventures within academia and industry. A joint effort between industry, academia and innovators will help accelerate a whole systems approach to solving some of the energy network challenges. This is crucial to supporting a sustainable, secure and equitable clean energy transition.
“Equiwatt has benefitted from the SEN Hub since the early days of inception. The support has enabled us to take our innovative residential demand-side response technology from idea to business venture. We are proud to be able to collaborate with SEN hub project partners in continuing the research efforts to shorten the time to market of innovative energy network solutions and help accelerate transition to a sustainable, secure and equitable clean energy network.”
Peter Smith, Director of Energy and Policy at National Energy Action explained: “Collaborations between National Energy Action and the Supergen Energy Networks Hub have helped our charity, as well as a wide range of other private and public sector organisations, better understand the opportunities for energy networks – particularly Distribution Network Operators – to support vulnerable customers.
“Supergen Energy Networks are ideally placed to co-ordinate and engage organisations, other academic centres and other stakeholders representing vulnerable groups, local decisions-makers and network operators to help foster our work in addressing vulnerability amongst energy users.”
Matt Hindle, Head of Net Zero and Sustainability at Wales and West Utilities, said: “We’re proud to be supporting Phase 2 of the Supergen Energy Networks hub. The hub has created invaluable links between academics and industry, and we share its vision for an ambitious, solution-focused net zero energy system.
“In phase 2, we’ll be contributing to all aspects of the hub, from networking events and workshops, to data provision and analysis. We’re also pleased to offer the outputs and findings of our unique Pathfinder model.
“We’re keen to expand the connections developed with academic partners in Phase 1 and look forward to further collaboration in this next phase.”
Made up of a varied community of more than 600 Industrial, Academic and Early Career Research partners, the hub is funded by the Engineering Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
Partners also include Northern Power Grid, British Telecom and National Grid.
A total of £17.5 million investment in three Supergen research hubs is aimed at boosting innovation in energy distribution, both nationally and internationally, and propel discoveries in renewable energy into impactful new technologies.
Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser, Chief Executive of UK Research and Innovation, said:
“The government has set a target of reaching net zero emissions by 2050, and UKRI is supporting this ambition with investments that will catalyse innovation and create new green technologies.
“The funding announced today will support researchers to develop game changing ideas to improve domestic, industrial and transport energy systems.”
“We are particularly excited at the prospect of building on existing investments at many of these universities and combining the best UK universities on this strategic theme to deliver world class research”
Paul Beasley, Head of R&D UK, Siemens
Supergen CO-I Dr Sridhar Adepu secures KTP Funded by Innovate UK for Applied Artificial Intelligence in Anomaly Detection and RITICS Fellowship for Thought Leadership in Cyber-Physical Systems
A warm congratulations to Dr Sridhar Adepu, who recently secured significant funding to contribute to the field of Critical National Infrastructure Security, with a specific focus on energy systems. The 2 grants will enable Sridhar to undertake research and develop innovative solutions to address the challenges posed by cyber threats.
The two projects are:
- KTP (Knowledge Transfer Partnership) funded by Innovate UK for 27 months together with Synoptix Ltd. This work focuses on applied Artificial Intelligence to build a model to take a decision during uncertainty which will be used in anomaly detection caused by cyber-attacks.
- Research Institute in Trustworthy Inter-connected Cyber-physical Systems (RITICS) Fellowship (23 to 24). The formation of RITICS was originally driven by UK Natonal Cyber Security Centre, stemming from what they identify as a topic of national importance. “The RITICS Fellowship roles are leadership roles and provide thought leadership in the RITICS Community and beyond.”
Supergen Biohub, Supergen Offshore Renewables and Supergen Energy Networks collaborate for Future Game Changers Award at the British Renewable Energy Awards
Are you a postgraduate student and do you have an innovative idea or concept that could accelerate the race to achieve net zero? If yes to the above, you are invited to submit a short video or poster to showcase your idea for this year’s Future Game Changers Award as part of the joint submission from Supergen Energy Networks, Supergen BioHub and Supergen Offshore Renewables.
The winner will be announced as part of the British Renewable Energy Awards at the Gala Awards Dinner on 23rd June 2023 at The Grosvenor Hotel Ballroom in London. A shortlist of finalists will be invited to enjoy the evening courtesy of the Award sponsors, Glennmont Partners by Nuveen.
The winner will be decided live on the night as all guests at the Awards Gala Dinner will be asked to vote for their favourite idea. The winner will receive the Award along with a bursary.
It is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the work that is taking place within our academic institutions and network with a whole host of contacts from across industry and policy at the Awards ceremony.
Entries can be submitted in various forms ranging from a photo of an illustrative size A0 POSTER to a VIDEO ENTRY of 5 minutes or less. Submissions to be sent to supergen-bioenergy@aston.ac.uk or via WeTransfer to supergen-bioenergy@aston.ac.uk Deadline is 8 June 2023.
For more information please visit the Supergen BioHub website. Inspiration from last year’s winner and shortlisted entries and top tips video can be viewed on YouTube.
Supergen are partnering with UKERC to host their International Summer School in Global Just Transition: Equity in Net Zero. Links to the UKERC article, summer school programme and application form can be found below. Application deadline 05/04/2023
We are delighted to announce that we are partnering with UKERC and others to host UKERC’s summer school in Global Just Transition: Equity in Net Zero. The following information about the Summer school has been taken from the UKERC website:
Summer school format
The event will have an international, interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral approach throughout the week-long programme, which focuses on a global just transition and equity in net zero. The summer school will develop the next generation of academics, decision-makers and professionals currently completing their doctoral training, and will help them appreciate both the complexities and opportunities related to the global implementation of net zero. Early career researchers[1] are also welcome to apply.
The event will be an engaging mix of lectures and skills-based workshops, along with networking opportunities. It will also include a focus on a problem-based scenario developed in collaboration with key stakeholders, the output from which will support real life decision making and solutions. The programme will also include social events and site visits to maximise opportunities for attendees to interact with each other and develop networks with like-minded individuals.
Key information
The summer school will take place in Newcastle 19-23 June 2023, and we are opening applications on the 27th of February. We are keen to see applications from CDT and DTP students across the UK, and international students.
The fee for participating in the summer school is £400, which includes accommodation, meals, site visits and local transfers within Newcastle. Students are expected to pay for their travel to and from Newcastle and visas where applicable, and any additional expenses incurred outside of the summer school. Financial assistance for travel and visas will also be available to support 20 students of lesser means to attend. With the global aspect of the summer school in mind, we are particularly keen to welcome students from Africa, Asia, the Pacific, the Caribbean, and South and Central America.
The deadline for applications is 12.00 GMT, Thursday 5 April, 2023. Applications will go through a two-stage process, with initial eligibility screening undertaken by UKERC, after which Part B of the application form will then anonymised before it is reviewed by the summer school steering group. For more information about the review process, please see page 3 of the application form.
We are keen to see applications from a large, diverse group of students, both nationally and internationally so please circulate this page to networks and colleagues as appropriate.
If you have any questions about the application process, please contact ukerc@ucl.ac.uk.
UKERC summer school article: International Summer School in Global Just Transition: Equity in Net Zero | UKERC | The UK Energy Research Centre
Summer school programme (draft): Summer-School-Programme_Draft.pdf (d2e1qxpsswcpgz.cloudfront.net)
Summer school application form: Summer-School-Application-Form.docx (live.com)