Innovate UK plans to invest up to £15 million through a funding call to stimulate innovation that creates UK business growth in infrastructure systems, including energy innovation.
Through a call to be launched next week, January 16, 2017, Innovate UK is looking for innovations in the ability to flexibly match changing energy supply and demand profiles of the future, under the energy innovation priority area.
Innovate UK will fund projects that may include technical feasibility, industrial research or experimental development projects.
There are two competition options, with £5 million designated for projects lasting from 3 months to 1 year, with costs from £25,000 to £100,000.
For projects that last from 1 to 3 years, with costs between £100,000 and £5 million, Innovate UK has allocated £10 million.
The projects must create or demonstrate smart system solutions that integrate energy generation and demand at local, regional or national scales, according to Innovate UK.
They might include time-shifting methods such as storage or advanced management and optimization of multiple energy supply and/or demand sources to boost use and efficiency, and are not limited to electricity.
The expected outcome should be seen in significant improvements in value proposition, energy affordability, security, and reduced carbon emissions.
However, energy innovations that solely develop a single-generation technology, except for offshore wind or nuclear fission, will not be funded through this call, Innovate UK noted.
Other priority areas set in the call are ‘smart’ infrastructure, connected transport, and urban living.
The deadline for applications has been set for March 22, 2017.