World-leading energy networks experts will call for renewable power generation facilities to be connected to the UK grid more quickly at a conference in Bath this week.
The Supergen Energy Networks Hub Annual Conference will highlight the role power networks play in delivering key national targets in reaching net zero, delivering green growth, powering new data centres that will help the UK become an AI superpower, and tackling issues including energy security and fuel poverty.
The conference, taking place at the University of Bath on Monday 8 and Tuesday 9 September, will bring together electrical engineering and power networks experts from industry and academia from the UK, USA and Africa. They are expected to raise the need for new renewables to be connected to the UK’s grid more quickly to help the nation deliver several of its long-term strategic environmental and economic goals.
A £9 million research hub
The Supergen Energy Networks Hub is a £9 million research project funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), led by Professor Phil Taylor, a globally recognised researcher and industrial expert in energy systems who is also Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Bath.
Professor Phil Taylor, Director of the Supergen Energy Networks Hub, said: “The discourse around energy and climate change is often dominated by aspects of power generation such as wind power, solar power and nuclear but we often forget about the crucial role that energy networks play in integrating these technologies and moving energy from where it is generated to where it is needed, in a safe, low carbon and reliable way.
“This role has become increasingly complex as we make strides towards net zero. Energy networks not only allow us to make the transition to a low carbon economy but also drive green growth such as decarbonising industrial processes and connecting large data centres to enable the adoption of AI at scale. The Supergen Energy Networks Hub puts energy networks front and centre and works collaboratively with industry and policy makers to develop new techniques, technologies and policies to accelerate progress.”
The hub brings together collaborative teams from industry, academia, government and civil society to carry out highly impactful, interdisciplinary research, to enable energy networks to become a driving force towards a rapid, safe and just transition to net zero.
Talks by UK and global experts
Plenary and keynote talks at the conference will be delivered by:
Phil Jones, Chief Executive of Northern Powergrid
Washington State University Regents Professor Anjan Bose
Cathy McClay, Managing Director of the National Grid Distribution System Operator
Dr Adama Gassama-Jallow from the University of The Gambia
The conference will also focus on the future requirement for skills in the sector, with a session for early-career researchers with talks from Professor Phil Taylor, as well as colleagues from Imperial College, Newcastle University and the Universities of Bristol and Birmingham.
Professor Robin Preece, Deputy Director of the hub, based at the University of Manchester, added: “The conference provides a great opportunity for colleagues from all career stages, and across academia and industry, to connect and discuss their latest research, as well as showcasing the many interesting problems that we still need to tackle on our transition to a net zero energy system.”
Co-investigators in the Supergen Energy Networks Hub are based at the Universities of Bath, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle, as well as the Energy Systems Catapult.
The University of Bath is a world leader in energy networks research. Distribution cost calculation processes developed at Bath by Professor Furong Li have been adopted as the industry standard in the UK, and our research is helping the UK to save 575,000 tons of CO2 annually by giving power operators a clearer understanding of consumers' actual usage.
See more about the conference and the Supergen Energy Networks Hub at https://supergenen.org/.
