UK regulator awards GBP 45.5m to grid innovation projects

Nov 23, 2012 - UK energy regulator Ofgem today said it had approved GBP 45.5 million (USD 72.7m/EUR 56.2m) from its Low Carbon Networks (LCN) fund for five projects designed to help make the grid smarter and facilitate the transition to a low-carbon economy.

The winning projects include ways for cheaper and faster connection of distributed generation such as solar panels and wind turbines, as well as cost effective management of the impact of distributed capacity on the network.

Western Power Distribution was awarded GBP 13.5 million to investigate, measure, monitor and mitigate fault level, which can limit the connection of distributed generation. The project could enable cheaper and quicker connections, Ofgem said.

Scottish Power Distribution secured GBP 7.4 million to try to address barriers to timely connection of distributed generation.

Eastern Power Networks got GBP 13.2 million for a project focused on cost effective use of batteries for electricity storage, Southern Electric Power Distribution & EA Technology won GBP 4.2 million for a project related to electric vehicles re-charging and Electricity North West was awarded GBP 7.2 million to look into how reducing voltage can reduce peak demand.

Through the LCN fund, Ofgem is making available up to GBP 500 million between April 2010 and March 2015 to support the move to a low-carbon energy industry.

(GBP 1.0 = USD 1.598/EUR 1.235)

Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!