UK universities in smart grid collaboration

The university has been awarded a grant of £507,000 from the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC) to support the two year initiative, which will involve researchers and engineers from Brunel University, Cardiff University and the University of Exeter. Dr Nazmiye Ozkan, senior research fellow at Westminster University's Policy Studies institute, said: "The project, in line with UKERC's aims, will provide key strategic insights which will help steer the development and implementation of smart grids and understand and manage the relevant risks and barriers. "This project will bring new knowledge regarding possible UK energy system transitions, which will help to provide a more complete and accurate understanding of the implications for people and society, and provide valuable support for government decisions on UK policy." Professor Jim Skea OBE, research director of the UKERC, added: "Smart grids promise to transform the way all users of electricity systems interact with each other. However, there is no shared vision as to where the smart grid concept might take us. This project will make an important contribution in terms of exploring the possibilities."