We are committed to investing in research and development (R&D) to bring forward technologies which will power our low carbon energy systems of the future.
These initiatives cover cleaner fossil-fuel and nuclear power plant, carbon capture and storage, renewable technologies, alternative fuels, low emission transport technologies, and low carbon energy solutions and energy efficiencies for our customers.
In total this R&D has a value of almost €18 million and is delivered by E.ON New Build & Technology, our scientific and engineering centre.
To achieve these aims, our own experts work with some of the leading energy specialists in universities and research organisations in the UK and mainland Europe. Through partnerships and collaborations, often supported by government, we are focusing innovation and creative thinking on how technologies can best be applied to provide energy which is reliable, affordable and sustainable.
For example, our R&D into the next generations of coal- and gas-fired power plant is looking at how we can improve efficiency by generating more electricity from the same amount of fuel, while reducing CO2 and other emissions and lowering environmental impacts. We’re developing designs and high performance materials for cleaner coal power stations that will operate at higher temperatures and pressures than previous plant.
For future gas-fired units, we’re examining enhanced operating cycles using less fuel which may include synthetic gas or bio-fuels. At the same time, we are improving the performance of today’s fossil-fuel plant.
Our focus on the new nuclear plant which is planned in the UK involves component integrity and testing techniques, materials and water chemistry for a new collaborative design concept.
Higher generation efficiencies will help to meet the extra energy required to operate carbon capture and storage technology if it’s fitted to new or existing power stations in the future.
Our work is evaluating the current leading options for preventing most CO2 emissions from being released into the atmosphere.
Recognising that the transport sector is a major generator of CO2 emissions, we’ve been heavily involved in the CABLED (Coventry and Birmingham Low Emissions Demonstrator) Project – currently the UK’s largest Electric Vehicle (EV) trial.
Even with the UK’s current electricity generation mix and transmission losses suffered in distribution, EVs emit around half the amount of CO2 compared to conventional vehicles. The introduction of EVs could contribute to a more sustainable solution for automotive transportation, especially as the electricity supplying them continues to decarbonise.
Our role in this initiative has been the delivery of infrastructure for domestic, work and public use. In addition to promoting the technology and increasing awareness to members of the general public, involvement in the initiative enables us to better understand user behaviour and impacts on the distribution network.
Our most visible activity has been the delivery of the first 36 public charging points in Birmingham and Coventry city centres. These charging points allow EV drivers to charge their vehicles in key areas. We’re providing free electricity for on-street charging points for the duration of the project.
We’ve also worked alongside vehicle manufacturers involved in the trial (Mitsubishi, Daimler-Smart, Tata and Jaguar-Land Rover), to deliver safe and customer-friendly charging units, to ensure vehicles can be charged at participants’ homes and workplaces.
In a further effort to promote the benefits and highlight the development areas of the technology, we’ve made a number of presentations to a range of audiences. Using the reference case of CABLED and our other research and development activities, we’ve showcased our work and identified our vision for how sustainable transportation fits in an energy solutions world.
As a consequence of our involvement in CABLED, at the end of 2010, we secured our first commercial EV infrastructure installation opportunity for Coventry City Council, the first UK, all-electric park and ride scheme. To be commissioned in summer 2011, this type of initiative continues to develop from the relationships we are developing in this area.