Energy Research Centre Opens

• Content
• Energy Management
• Energy Research Centre Opens

13 October 2017 | Updated 01 January 1970

Newcastle University, Northern Gas Networks (NGN) and Northern Powergrid have launched InTEGReL - Integrated Transport Electricity Gas Research Laboratory.

The InTEGReL project demonstrates how the private sector – working with the UK’s world class Higher Education sector – can take a leading role in helping Britain reach our 2050 emission reduction target

Greg Clark MP, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said: "InTEGReL is the UK’s first fully integrated energy systems research, development and demonstration site as part of its work to develop a fully integrated, zero carbon energy network moving from cleaner to clean, greener to green.

"The site in Gateshead is a partnership with the EPSRC National Centre for Energy Systems Integration (CESI) at Newcastle University. It is an incubator for cutting edge whole energy systems technology, allowing forward-thinking businesses to test their ideas in real-world conditions, and at a large scale.

"InTEGReL will tackle the UK’s energy challenges head on, with teams of academics and engineers working to deliver breakthroughs in the decarbonisation of heat, energy storage and transport. It is an investment in the consumer, as the principal aim will be working to identify the most affordable and practical solution to moving customers onto low carbon, low cost energy."

The Energy Networks Association estimates that £80 billion of private investment will be made in the UK’s energy networks by the year 2020. If a whole systems approach saved just 5% of that cost, savings of around £4 billion could be passed to the customer through energy bills.

The site will feature cutting edge smart grid technology, the latest research into battery storage and be at the forefront of hydrogen expertise, building on NGN’s industry leading H21 City Gate project, which proved that the existing gas network has the capacity to be converted to zero carbon hydrogen.

Professor Phil Taylor, Head of Engineering for Newcastle University and Head of the National Centre for Energy Systems Integration, said: “Computer models can only take us so far in understanding energy systems and developing and evaluating new techniques and technologies, so there is a critical need for full-scale integrated energy system research and demonstration facilities where new ideas can be trialled and evaluated.

“These facilities are key in building confidence in new methods and technologies, in terms of both performance and safety, and this is what underpins our research at Newcastle University. Through integrating the learning from our smart grid laboratory, energy storage test bed on Science Central and now InTEGReL, the aim is to test the whole energy system and really understand how we need to evolve and adapt to meet future supply and demand.”

Picture: InTEGReL - Integrated Transport Electricity Gas Research Laboratory

Article written by Cathryn Ellis | Published 13 October 2017

Share

Related Articles