Cornwall Council has signed a new Protocol of Co-operation with Penghu County Government in Taiwan to jointly promote the research and development of smart grids and renewable energy technologies via an international video link.
Smart grids will ultimately allow energy networks to work more effectively, reducing energy costs and usage and allow investment in more renewable energy technologies without relying on upgrades to an ageing national grid infrastructure.
Cornwall Council Chairman Mrs Pat Harvey and Stephen Rushworth, the newly elected portfolio holder for economy and regeneration, signed the Protocol in Cornwall on behalf of the authority.
The signatories in Taiwan were Director Yeh, of the Economic Affairs Department of the Penghu County Government, and Dr Jonathan Adey, a senior officer from Cornwall Council. Dr Adey, who leads the team supporting the delivery of Cornwall’s £500m Convergence European funding programme, is a member of the UK Smart Grid mission currently visiting Taiwan to establish industry and academic links to develop smart grid opportunities and business opportunities.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by David Campbell, Director of the British Trade and Cultural Office (BTCO) and Vice President Shi-Lin Chen of Taiwan SMartGrid Industry Association (TSGIA).
Welcoming the new Protocol, Mrs Harvey and Stephen Rushworth said: “Cornwall has the best solar and geothermal energy resources in the UK, as well as significant wind potential and an up and coming marine energy industry. However we are also at the end of the electricity line which makes us very vulnerable to any potential future energy crisis.
“The Council is committed to ensuring we maximise this huge opportunity to both create new jobs in this rapidly growing industry as well as ensuring a secure energy supply for years to come. This Protocol will enable us to develop positive relationships between academics, experts and businesses in Cornwall and Taiwan to help us achieve this aim.”
Dr Adey was awarded a fellowship from the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust earlier this year to help Cornwall Council share knowledge and build partnerships with international public and private sector organisations in Europe and the Far East. He is using his grant to travel to Taiwan, South Korea and Japan to work with international organisations at the leading edge of developing renewable and smart grid technologies.
“Cornwall is very pleased to collaborate with Penghu in rolling out smart grid technologies that will ultimately help us take forward our renewable energy aspirations,” said Dr Adey . “Smart grids are designed to provide a new kind of electricity network which can better respond to peaks and troughs in generation and demand. As a result they can help reduce energy usage and costs, delivering a more sustainable and secure electricity supply.
“This collaboration will include the development of smart grid technologies, smart grid technology standards research, power distribution networks, energy storage R&D research, renewable energy and low carbon technology research, bilateral industry alliance collaboration, etc, with the aim of stimulating collaboration and development between universities, research institutes and companies engaged in the Penghu Low Carbon island and Smart Cornwall projects.”
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Press release, November 8, 2012; Image: Cornwall Council