UK energy researchers can now work directly with industry on some of the energy system’s toughest challenges, through a new Academic Portal launched by Energy Systems Nexus.
Energy Systems Nexus is an industry-funded research and development collaboration that brings together progressive energy industry leaders with the sector’s brightest minds to define, fund and deliver a whole-systems R&D program in pursuit of Net Zero. Its members include UK National Nuclear Laboratory, E.ON and Amazon Web Services.
Industry members of the Nexus have identified research challenges where academic expertise could make the biggest difference. Researchers can build on short summaries of each challenge, written by Nexus industry partners, to bid for third-party funding, such as a doctoral training center studentship or a post-doctoral project on a UKRI grant-funded program.
Dr Jim Fleming, Nexus strategic advisor and Head of Energy at the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), said:
“Bridging academia and industry is one of the most valuable things we can do to accelerate the UK’s energy transition, and the launch of this Academic Portal is a genuinely exciting addition to that landscape. It gives researchers a direct route into the whole energy system challenges industry is grappling with. I’d encourage ambitious academics to take a look at what’s on offer.”
The first three challenge areas are:
- Looking beyond 2050: Exploring how extending whole energy system modelling to 2060 or 2070 could change decisions made in the next 10 to 15 years, from where nuclear plants, data centers and industrial clusters are sited to the case for large-scale heat networks. For the right candidate, the Catapult would consider providing access to its leading Energy System Modelling Environment (ESME).
- Flexibility in NHS buildings: Quantifying how demand flexibility in NHS trust sites could release network capacity and pass value back to the public through lower operating costs. Researchers could draw on safeguarded data on hospital energy use from 25 NHS trusts, available through the Smart Energy Data Service (SENSE) platform.
- A fair transition: Evidencing how rising non-commodity electricity costs fall on different income groups and regions, and what industry could do to reduce the impact on low-income and fuel-poor households. SENSE data includes fuel poverty statistics and UK spending insights.
The Nexus is calling on researchers to review the short summaries of each challenge and request access to the full detail if they plan to seek third-party funding. The Catapult will then discuss the challenge with the Nexus members that identified it, and on a case-by-case basis they will consider offering in-kind or direct industrial support for an application. Funded projects can also draw on Catapult support to reach wider industry.
Nick Eyre, Nexus strategic advisor and Emeritus Professor of Energy and Climate Policy at the University of Oxford, said:
“From my own experience working with Nexus members, I know the new academic portal is a major opportunity. It lets UK energy researchers work with industry on challenges where their insight is needed, and see their work have a real impact on the energy system.”
Alex Buckman, Energy Systems Nexus Lead, said:
“If you're an academic who's looking to apply your cutting-edge research and methodologies to industrial applications, and any of these challenges resonate with you and your area of work, then get in touch to find out whether a Nexus-backed challenge could feed into your application.”