Ofgem has announced funding for forty renewable energy projects, with money being allocated from its Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF).
SIF is a five year programme run by the energy regulator, providing backing of up to £450m for technology projects that will aid the UK in it’s race to achieve net-zero. It is run in partnership with Innovate UK, who managed the application process, whittling down the entrants to the forty that will receive the first round of funding.
The four main areas of attention that are considered are:
- Whole system integration
- Heat
- Data digitisation
- Zero emission transport
Each of the chosen projects for this round will receive up to £150,000, allowing for a two month trial period where the validity of their proposals will be assessed. Successful ventures will be in line for additional funding, this time up to £500,000.
After this stage, more substantial backing will be made available to the projects that are deemed to offer the most value, with the end result being wide-scale rollouts across the UK’s energy network.
The types of technologies being trailed vary greatly and include:
- Using hydrogen to assist electric vehicle charging during peak times
- Trialling new metallic coating to protect pipes from wear and tear
- The usage of nuclear power in generating hydrogen
- Developing an understanding of how satellites can be used during emergencies to maintain power supplies
- How to store heat in large quantities
As well as practical projects, initial funding has also been allocated to a series of studies. These range from understanding how hydrogen can be used to power large vehicles to utilising energy infrastructure in decarbonising train networks.
Matt Hastings, Deputy Director of the Ofgem SIF programme at Innovate UK, said:
“The SIF aims to respond to the urgency needed to deliver net zero. Launching 40 projects in parallel, involving 100% of the UK energy networks, shows we can embrace new approaches, move quickly and take more calculated risks.
“We strongly believe we can make the UK the best place in the world to be an energy consumer, and the best place in the world to be an energy entrepreneur. Working together, we can use the Strategic Innovation Fund to help turn the UK into the ‘Silicon Valley’ of energy.”
Innovate UK and Ofgem will be opening the application process for a second round of projects in Autumn 2022.
