Institute to help make London low carbon

The Institute is a partner in the Low Carbon London project, which has recently received £24.3 million of funding from Ofgem's Low Carbon Network Fund (LCNF).

The project runs to June 2014 and will accelerate the development of smart grids and help electricity networks to support low carbon energy use.

The project consortium is led by UK Power Networks (formerly EDF Networks) and includes Logica, Imperial College, and Transport for London. The project is designed to emulate the electricity supply chain of 2020 and implement a wide range of solutions to facilitate and evaluate the effects of low carbon initiatives.

Commenting on this project, Basil Scarsella, Chief Executive of UK Power Networks, said: "It means we can start developing an electricity network that not only supports London's existing and planned low carbon strategies, but can also accommodate the many different demands on the network we will face in 2020."

Lessons learned from these ground-breaking initiatives will be shared with all network companies and interested parties, potentially benefitting millions of energy consumers across Britain.

Neil Johnston, Director of Delivery at the Institute for Sustainability said: "The project means London's electricity network can get ready for a future where electric vehicles, smart meters, decentralised energy, big businesses and individuals can play an increasing role in reducing carbon emissions while also saving money."

The funding awarded will inform the crucial investment needed in energy infrastructure to connect renewable generation and accommodate new technologies such as electric vehicles. It will also help the companies understand how to run their networks in a more intelligent way to meet changing needs quickly and efficiently.