National Grid has secured £15.3 million from Ofgem’s Strategic Innovation Fund to advance three key net zero innovation projects. This funding will support significant developments in the UK’s electricity transmission and distribution networks.

National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) will receive £8.5 million to develop a long-term strategy for eliminating SF6, a potent greenhouse gas used in electrical insulation. The initiative aims to enhance the sustainability and efficiency of the electricity network.

National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED) has been awarded £6.9 million for two projects: the PRIDE project, which will utilize digital tools to improve regional energy planning and integrate low carbon technologies, and the Phase Switch System (PSS) project, designed to balance phase loads in the distribution network to accommodate increasing low carbon technology usage.

The projects, part of the Beta Phase of the Strategic Innovation Fund, will progress towards commercial viability and contribute to the UK’s net zero goals. They include collaborations with academic and industry partners, such as The University of Manchester, SSEN Transmission, and Wales and West Utilities.

Sean Coleman, Strategic Innovation Fund Manager at National Grid, emphasized the importance of these innovations in achieving the UK’s decarbonisation targets. Paul Morris, Head of Future Capacity at NGED, highlighted the potential of these projects to accelerate the transition to a sustainable energy future and enhance customer experience.

Source: nationalgrid.com