UK studies how digitalisation and data can reduce energy demand and emissions
The UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has announced that some seven research, development and pilot projects will be implemented to highlight or explore the role of digitalisation and data-enabled models to reduce energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions.
The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and Siemens are providing £340,000 in funding for projects to assess how digital solutions can help monitor and optimise energy use at ports and in supermarkets.
The projects will also look at how solar energy forecasting can be used to manage demand and ensure energy system reliability and how digital twins can enable optimal grid infrastructure management and decarbonisation.
The University of Liverpool will lead a project that will focus on how digitalisation can be used for operational efficiency and greenhouse gas emission reduction at ports.
The Imperial College London will test a cloud-based digital energy management platform to improve energy efficiency in heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration in supermarkets and commercial buildings.
The University of Nottingham will explore solar energy forecasting to match energy generation with demand and usage for grid management and reliability whilst Loughborough University will test the impact of data analytics on energy management in buildings.
Have you read?
Canadian city uses AI for renewable energy optimisation
Naturgy to optimise smart metering for grid digitalisation with Arkossa
Northern Powergrid to pilot smart meter-enabled voltage optimisation tech
Cardiff University will pilot how blockchain-enabled demand-side management can be used to unlock the full potential of flexibility for grid stability.
Coupling electric vehicles with renewable energy will be assessed by Northumbria University.
EPSRC Executive Chair, Professor Dame Lynn Gladden, said: “Digital technologies will play an important role in making our use of energy more efficient, reducing the impact on the environment.
“The feasibility studies announced today demonstrate EPSRC’s ability to build exciting partnerships between industry and academia.
“The studies will explore innovative new approaches to ensure we have the digital infrastructure we need to deliver on the UK’s net-zero ambitions.”
UK CEO, Siemens plc, Carl Ennis, added: “Data-driven innovation is vital to our ability to find technology solutions that can help the country decarbonise and save energy.
“It is through the close collaboration between business and academia that we can prioritise deploying solutions at scale that are right here, right now.”
