06 February 2012

EIC member shortlisted for prestigious industry award Energy Innovation Centre member, Live Alert Ltd, has been shortlisted in the HSE Project/ Initiative of the Year category in the 2012 Middle East Electricity Awards. Live Alert has been nominated for its product, Energised Alert, which was invented to ensure the safety of workers using machinery around overhead power lines.

Fatalities can occur when vehicles used in this line of work channel current around the outer surface of the vehicle, leaving the operator relatively safe until they step down from the vehicle, earthing themselves and creating a new path for the current. Energised Alert is a simple to install device containing a voltage detector that senses when the electrical potential of the vehicle exceeds the preset limit. No connection to earth is required, which means the vehicle operator is warned of any electrical connection immediately and can ensure they move their vehicle to safety before they step out. EIC helped Live Alert to secure funding and bridge the gap between themselves and potential customers including DNOs.

Denise Massey, Director of EIC said: “It’s great to hear that Live Alert has been nominated for this award. Energised Alert is a highly innovative product that will improve the safety of not just power industry staff but also construction workers, farmers and anyone else working in close proximity to overhead power lines.”

The Middle East Electricity Awards recognise outstanding achievements of individuals, departments, teams or organisations that have contributed to the growth and development of the energy industry with a focus on power, lighting, new and renewable, nuclear and water sectors. The winners will be announced at an awards dinner in February at The Plaza, Dubai World Trade Centre.

02 February 2012

Innovation gauntlet laid down as EIC announces access to £29.2m funding

The Energy Innovation Centre has revealed access to £29.2m of funding for innovators and companies looking to bring new ideas for tomorrow’s energy industry to market.

Available from February 2012, the funding can be accessed via the Energy Innovation Centre and investments will be selected by five of the UK’s leading electricity distribution companies Electricity North West, Northern Power Grid, ScottishPower Energy Networks, Scottish and Southern Energy and UK Power Networks.  These major players are looking to implement new services and technologies to enhance the way power is transported, monitored and stored.  The funding available originates from Ofgem’s Innovation Funding Incentive scheme and the £500m Low Carbon Networks (LCN) Fund. 

Denise Massey, Director of the Energy Innovation Centre said: “This is another huge step forward for innovators and businesses that need to accelerate their ideas to market. As part of this initiative we will continue to deliver a range of support services, including opportunities to test technologies on high and low voltage power networks and establish relationships with potential customers.

“This is an opportunity for the UK to further develop the way energy is distributed whether this is a new or early stage idea or an existing technology from another industry which will improve the energy supply process. We are looking for products that will help manage demand, and encourage more efficient use of energy in the home and workplace.”

The UK power industries operate power networks with a replacement value of £150bn and invest £1.5bn per annum on maintaining and growing their 500,000 miles of cable which deliver electricity to your home. The flows of energy will be completely different to what we’re used to which is single flow from a centralised generation to people’s homes, to now a more localised generation.

Mark Mathieson, managing director of networks at Scottish and Southern Energy, discussed some of the issues surrounding constraints in the power networks. He said: “The low carbon agenda will change the way we buy and procure energy from the model we’re used to. Not a lot has changed since the 1930s but we as we move towards the likes of wind generation, electric cars, PV systems we’re looking at a more intermittent and complex mix of energy generation and use. The flows of energy will be completely different to what we’re used to and we need to manage the new constraints. Fault detection and resolution will also become increasingly complex.

“Energy companies want to avoid digging up the UK’s footpaths to lay bigger cables to accommodate the increased demand so we’re turning to innovation to help us look at new ways of tackling this. The Energy Innovation Centre plays a vital role in allowing people and businesses with good ideas to quickly interact with the industry.”

Since its launch in 2008 the Cheshire-based Energy Innovation Centre has provided business support to over 140 SMEs, start-ups and inventors from the UK and internationally. The Centre offers a complete range of services including product development, funding assistance, business support and access to power experts, and is committed to turning energy saving ideas into commercial reality.

For more information about the funding available and to see a list of industry technology gaps please call 0151 347 2433

08 December 2011

Irish energy company FMC-Tech is a shining example of the success that can be achieved with support from the Energy Innovation Centre.

Just two and a half years after contacting the Centre for help, FMC-Tech had a proven smart-grid compatible technology with global scope - and in late 2011 the company was acquired by industry giant General Electric.

FMC-Tech is now gearing up for large-scale deployment of its intelligent real-time line monitoring system, in a move set to benefit both the wide scale energy industry and consumers. 

Read more...

08 December 2011

The Energy Innovation Centre will be releasing a series of short videos from the major energy players over the next few months. We will asking questions about energy innovation and the issues that currently face the networks as we move towards a low carbon economy.