Centre for Energy Systems Integration

Completed

Other Cross-Cutting Technologies or Research(Energy system analysis)

Basic and strategic applied research

SOCIAL SCIENCES (Business and Management Studies)
SOCIAL SCIENCES (Sociology)
PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Computer Science and Informatics)
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Electrical and Electronic Engineering)
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering)

Systems Analysis related to energy R&D (Energy modelling)

Dr SL Walker
Fac of Engineering and Environment
Northumbria University

Standard

EPSRC

01 October 2016

31 July 2022

70 months

£5,359,128

Energy

North East

Energy : Energy

Dr SL Walker, Fac of Engineering and Environment, Northumbria University

Dr S Abram, Anthropolog, Durham University
Professor PT Blythe, Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Newcastle University
Dr C Dent, Engineering, Durham University
Dr S Djokic, Energy Systems, University of Edinburgh
Dr D Flynn, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University
Professor J Gluyas, Earth Sciences, Durham University
Professor M Goldstein, Mathematical Sciences, Durham University
Dr A Grothey, Sch of Mathematics, University of Edinburgh
Professor GP Harrison, Energy Systems, University of Edinburgh
Professor SI Hogg, Engineering, Durham University
Professor T Jamasb, Sch of Management and Languages, Heriot-Watt University
Dr D P Jenkins, Sch of Energy, Geosci, Infrast & Society, Heriot-Watt University
Dr A Kiprakis, Sch of Engineering and Electronics, University of Edinburgh
Dr P F Lyons, Electrical, Electronic & Computer Eng, Newcastle University
Professor G MacKerron, School of Business Management &Economics, University of Sussex
Professor K McKinnon, Sch of Mathematics, University of Edinburgh
Dr A Peacock, Sch of Energy, Geosci, Infrast & Society, Heriot-Watt University
Dr V Robu, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University
Professor A P Roskilly, Sir Joseph Swan Institute, Newcastle University
Professor SR Sorrell, School of Business Management &Economics, University of Sussex
Dr J Swingler, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University
Professor PC Taylor, Engineering, Durham University
Professor P Watson, Computing Sciences, Newcastle University
Dr A van der Weijde, Sch of Engineering and Electronics, University of Edinburgh

Project Contact, Nanyang Technological University (NTU Singapore)
Project Contact, ARCC
Project Contact, Triphase NV, Belgium
Project Contact, UK Energy Research Centre
Project Contact, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), USA
Project Contact, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
Project Contact, Scottish and Southern Energy plc
Project Contact, National Grid plc
Project Contact, Northern Powergrid
Project Contact, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech), Russia
Project Contact, University College Dublin, Ireland
Project Contact, Durham County Council
Project Contact, Findhorn Foundation
Project Contact, ENA - Energy Networks Association
Project Contact, REDT UK Ltd
Project Contact, Northern Gas Networks
Project Contact, Gentoo Group
Project Contact, Newcastle City Council
Project Contact, Cluff Geothermal Ltd
Project Contact, Energy Systems Catapult
Project Contact, Denchi Power Ltd
Project Contact, North East Local Enterprise Partnership
Project Contact, Knowledge Transfer Network Limited
Project Contact, Dong Energy, Denmark
Project Contact, Siemens plc (UK)
Project Contact, TNEI Services Limited
Project Contact, Centre for Sensor and Imaging Systems
Project Contact, SP Energy Networks
Project Contact, National Energy Action
Project Contact, Technical University of Denmark
Project Contact, Your Homes Newcastle Limited

Energy systems are vitally important to the future of UK industry and society. However, the energy trilemma presents many complex interconnected challenges. Current integrated energy systems modelling and simulation techniques suffer from a series of shortcomings that undermine their ability to develop and inform improved policy and planning decisions, therefore preventing the UK realising huge potential benefits. The current approach is characterised by high level static models which produce answers or predictions that are highly subject to a set of critical simplifying assumptions and therefore cannot be relied upon with a high degree of confidence. They are unable to provide sufficiently accurate or detailed, integrated representations of the physics, engineering, social, spatial temporal or stochastic aspects of real energy systems. They also struggle to generate robust long term plans in the face of uncertainties in commercial and technological developments and the effects of climate change, behavioural dynamics and technological interdependencies.The aim of the Centre for Energy Systems Integration (CESI) is to address this weakness and reduce the risks associated with securing and delivering a fully integrated future energy system for the UK. This will be achieved through the development of a radically different, holistic modelling, simulation and optimisation methodology which makes use of existing high level tools from academic, industry and government networks and couples them with detailed models validated using full scale multi vector demonstration systems. CESI will carry out uncertainty quantification to identify the robust messages which the models are providing about the real world, and to identify where effort on improving models should be focused in order to maximise learning about the real world. This approach, and the associated models and data, will be made available to the energy community and will provide a rigorous underpinning for current integrated energy systems research, so that future energy system planning and policy formulation can be carried out with a greater degree of confidence than is currently possible.CESI is a unique partnership of five research intensive universities and underpinning strategic partner Siemens (contribution value of 7.1m to the centre) The Universities of Newcastle, Durham, Edinburgh, Heriot-Watt and Sussex have a combined RCUK energy portfolio worth over 100m. The centre will have a physical base as Newcastle University which will release space for the centre in the new 60m Urban Sciences Building. This building will contain world-class facilities from which to lead international research into digitally enabled urban sustainability and will also be physically connected to a full scale instrumented multi vector energy system. The building will feature an Urban Observatory, which will collect a diverse set of data from across the city, and a 3D Decision Theatre which will enable real-timedata to be analysed, explored and the enable the testing of hypotheses.The main aim of CESI's work is to develop a modular 'plug-n-play' environment in which components of the energy system can be co-simulated and optimised in detail. With no technology considered in isolation, considering sectors as an interlinked whole, the interactions and rebound effects across technologies and users can be examined.The methodology proposed is a system architect concept underpinned by a twin track approach of detailed multi-vector, integrated simulation and optimisation at various scales incorporating uncertainty, coupled with large scale demonstration and experimental facilities in order to test, validate and evaluate solutions and scenarios. A System Architect takes a fully integrated, balanced, long term, transparent approach to energy system planning unfettered by silos and short term thinking.

23/06/17