Keele University welcomes the announcement made today (24 July 2017) by the Government regarding the contribution that smart energy technology can make to the UK’s Industrial Strategy.

Business and Energy Secretary Greg Clark has outlined a plan for significant investment that will give homes and businesses more control over their energy use, support innovative new technologies and save consumers up to £40bn.

This programme of investment is in addition to the £4.56m funding that the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has pledged towards the creation of Europe’s first Smart Energy Network Demonstrator (SEND) at Keele University. 

By working with businesses, graduates and academics, the University aims to create an ‘at scale’ living laboratory where new energy-efficient technologies can be researched, developed and tested in a real world environment.

The SEND programme, which is also being funded by Keele University and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the England 2014 to 2020 European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) Growth Programme, builds on the investments made over recent years in the University’s energy and other utility networks.

As well as delivering this world-class demonstrator facility for smart energy network research and development, the programme will also support Staffordshire-based SMEs through £2.5million of funding.  Participating businesses will be able to benefit from full-time personnel funded through the programme, as well as a significant consumables budget and access to expert supervisors and advisors, all of which can aid the development of new products that can used in energy markets and supply chains.

Through the actions that are being taken via the SEND programme, the University aims to save approximately 4,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.  The Demonstrator also aims to become a nationally-important research and development facility that undertakes world-leading research into environmental sustainability, meaning that the breakthroughs achieved through the programme can be shared nationally and internationally.

Today’s announcement follows a recent visit to Keele University by Claire Perry, Minister of State for Climate Change and Industry, who participated in a roundtable discussion on energy and environmental research.

European Regional Development Fund

The Smart Energy Network Demonstrator programme (Ref: 32R16P00706) has received £9,009,000 of funding from the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. The Department for Communities and Local Government (and in London the intermediate body Greater London Authority) is the Managing Authority for European Regional Development Fund.

Established by the European Union, the European Regional Development Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support innovation, businesses, create jobs and local community regenerations. For more information, visit www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding.