National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) is partnering six universities across the UK to help decarbonise the electricity system and accelerate progress towards net zero.

Researchers, analysts and academics from Cardiff, Edinburgh, Exeter, Manchester, Southampton and Strathclyde universities will partner with NGET colleagues on projects across areas related to NGET’s work maintaining the electricity network in Great Britain.

“Innovation will be crucial in helping to achieve a safe, resilient and decarbonised electricity system,” said Nicola Todd, NGET’s head of strategy and innovation. “Collaborations such as these will enable us to move faster and further, unlocking new technologies, processes and systems that will make our network cleaner, at the same time as driving costs down for consumers.”

Manu Haddad, director of the high-voltage engineering research centre at Cardiff University, added: “This innovation partnership will allow us to strengthen our long-established research collaboration with NGET in the areas of transmission networks power systems transients and safe high voltages, with focus on SF₆-free alternative insulation gases that have a much lower global warming potential, outdoor insulation and safety of plant.”

The partnerships, which cover the five years from 2021 to 2026, should help enable the transition to a cleaner electricity through knowledge sharing and creation of a culture of innovation, both between NGET and individual universities and as an entire collective.

“We are delighted to continue our work with National Grid to deliver innovations that will help deliver net zero,” said Ian Cotton, professor of high-voltage technology at the University of Manchester. “Our projects are accelerating the deployment of environmental fluids in transformers, ensuring we can eliminate SF₆ in high-voltage switchgear and maximising the power transfer capacity of existing infrastructure.”

The collaborations will focus on innovative approaches to NGET’s day-to-day management of the network, calling on the knowledge and expertise of the universities to ensure a continued focus on resilience and security of supply. Other focus areas include low emissions technologies and new power electronics applications, as well as increasing the digitalisation of the power system through the use of artificial intelligence and data management and analysis.

“The University of Edinburgh is delighted to be joining National Grid’s innovation framework at what is an exciting and pivotal time for the UK electricity supply industry,” said Gareth Harrison, deputy head of the University of Edinburgh’s school of engineering. “We regard this as a tribute to the university’s history of inter-disciplinary, energy research and an opportunity to apply this to some of the big engineering challenges of our time The university is looking forward to sharing and developing its expertise on power system modelling, power electronics, energy system decarbonisation and net zero.”

The partnerships will help to develop and deliver projects in the following areas:

• Electricity transmission network asset design, operation and maintenance
• Power system modelling and simulation
• Power electronics applications for electricity transmission networks
• Digitalisation of power system, including: data management and analysis; robotics; virtual and augmented reality; and artificial intelligence applications for transmission networks
• Energy system decarbonisation, including low-emission technologies and whole system modelling.

“We are delighted to see this next phase of cooperation with NGET for delivering its innovation strategy, building on our track record of collaborative energy innovation,” said Graeme Burt, director of the University of Strathclyde’s institute for energy and environment. “Through this framework, NGET will have access to expertise from across the institute, our wider network of university academics, and our industry facing centres, enabling multidisciplinary approaches and innovations to NGET strategic innovation priorities.”

Zhongdong Wang, pro-vice-chancellor at the University of Exeter, added: “The research framework with National Grid is a milestone for smart grid research at the University of Exeter and is closely aligned with our strategy to promote affordable low-carbon energy, which is a fundamental component of a green environmental and economic future.”

And Paul Lewin, professor of electrical power engineering at the University of Southampton, said: “The University of Southampton is delighted to continue to develop its long relationship with National Grid and in particular to assist in delivering innovation in key areas including high-voltage plant and electrical insulation materials.”