National Grid has been awarded £22.8 million through Ofgem’s Network Innovation Competition, to fund work on three ground-breaking projects.
The Network Innovation Competition is an annual opportunity for companies to compete for funding, for the development of new low-carbon technologies.
The first of three National Grid projects to receive funding includes plans to convert an existing substation into a state-of-the-art off-grid research facility. The pioneering project, which has been awarded £12 million, will fully replicate a live substation environment, allowing live trials into low-carbon electricity networks.
A project to construct a commercial demonstration plant that will produce renewable, low-carbon methane (BioSNG), through the gasification of household waste, has been awarded £6 million. National Grid engineers believe BioSNG could eventually meet 40% of UK domestic gas demand, with customers benefiting from renewable energy being delivered directly through the gas network.
The third and final National Grid project to receive backing from Ofgem has been awarded £4.8 million. Project ‘CLoCC’ (Customer Low Cost Connections) will aim to minimise the time and cost of connections to the national gas transmission system, through pioneering changes to every aspect of the connection process.
John Pettigrew, UK executive director at National Grid said: “Today’s decision by Ofgem to award National Grid £22.8 million, is a clear endorsement of all three projects and underlines the importance of what we are trying to achieve.
“The projects are great examples of our continued commitment to innovation in electricity transmission, gas transmission and gas distribution. The funding from Ofgem will help us get these new technologies out of the lab and into the business sooner, so consumers can really feel the benefit.”
Electricity Transmission – ‘Off-grid substation environment for the acceleration of innovative technologies’
https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications-and-updates/electricity-nic-year-three-screening-submission-offline-substation-environment-acceleration-innovative-technologies-oseait
Gas Distribution - ‘Commercial BioSNG demonstration plant’
https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications-and-updates/gas-nic-year-three-screening-submission-commercial-biosng-demonstration-plant
Gas Transmission – ‘Project CloCC’ (Customer Low Cost Connections)
https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications-and-updates/gas-nic-year-three-screening-submission-new-approach-nts-connections
Notes to editors - archive
National Grid is one of the largest investor-owned energy companies in the world and was named Responsible Business of the Year 2014 by Business in the Community. This accolade acknowledges all of our efforts in getting involve with the things that really matter to us and to society. We own and manage the grids that connect people to the energy they need, from whatever the source. In Britain and the north-eastern states of the US we run systems that deliver gas and electricity to millions of people, businesses and communities.
In Britain, we run the gas and electricity systems that our society is built on, delivering gas and electricity across the country. In the North Eastern US, we connect more than seven million gas and electric customers to vital energy sources, essential for our modern lifestyles.
National Grid in the UK:
- We own the high-voltage electricity transmission network in England and Wales, operating it across Great Britain
- We own and operate the high pressure gas transmission system in Britain
- Our gas distribution business delivers gas to 10.9 million homes and businesses
- We also own a number of related businesses including LNG importation, land remediation and metering
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- Our portfolio of other businesses is mainly concerned with infrastructure provision and related services where we can exploit our core skills and assets to create value. These businesses operate in areas such as Metering, Grain LNG Import, Interconnectors and Property. National Grid Carbon Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of National Grid. It undertakes Carbon Capture Storage related activities on behalf of National Grid.
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