Innovate UK

Data modelling, systems design, and detailed planning are all moving ahead at the £31 million Innovate SmartHubs Smart Local Energy Systems (SLES) virtual power plant (VPP) project in West Sussex county.

Edinburgh-based start-up Gravitricity has signed a land rental agreement with Forth Ports to build their first demonstrator on land within the Port of Leith. Works is set to begin on the £1 million ($1.22 million) project in October, with plans for operations to begin in December.

The EV Fleet-Centred Local Energy Systems (EFLES) project is aimed at optimising logistics companies’ growing electric vehicle (EV) fleets and demonstrating how smart charging can incentivise large fleet operators to go electric.

Innovate UK has announced £4 million in funding to be allocated to UK-based projects that can help decentralise the country’s energy future.

UK businesses with innovative research and development projects that can support the development and supply of zero-emission vehicles in the long term are being offered a share of £25 million in funding.

A UK pilot has been launched to test how gamification can be used to influence EV owners into using vehicle to grid technologies, ensuring grid reliability. Ecotricity, Gengame, EnAppSys, Newcastle University and Northern Powergrid have...