UK energy regulator Ofgem has awarded National Grid £22.8 million to fund three projects that will pilot new and innovative technologies across its electricity and gas networks.
The award includes £12 million for an off-grid research facility, £6 million for a household waste gasification project, and £4.8 million for a customer low cost connections (CloCC) project on the national gas transmission system.
Ofgem's Network Innovation Competition is an annual opportunity for companies to compete for funding for projects designed to develop new low-carbon technologies.
"[The] decision by Ofgem to award National Grid £22.8 million is a clear endorsement of all three projects and underlines the importance of what we are trying to achieve," said John Pettigrew, UK executive director at National Grid. "The projects are great examples of our continued commitment to innovation in electricity transmission, gas transmission and gas distribution.
"The funding from Ofgem will help us get these new technologies out of the lab and into the business sooner, so consumers can really feel the benefit."
The off-grid research facility involves the conversion of an existing substation into a state-of-the-art facility that will fully replicate a love substation environment and allow live trials into low-carbon electricity networks.
National Grid's BioSNG project involves the construction of a commercial demonstration plant that will produce renewable, low-carbon methane through the gasification of household waste.
National Grid engineers believe BioSNG could eventually meet 40 per cent of UK domestic gas demand, with customers benefiting from renewable energy being delivered directly through the gas network.
Project 'CLoCC' aims to minimise the time and cost of connections to the national gas transmission system, through pioneering changes to every aspect of the connection process, National Grid said.
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