Energy opportunities on campus and further afieldIan Cotton, Director of Manchester Energy www.energy.manchester.ac.uk
Context• Across the University over 200 academics / around 600 researchers work in energy• 1/3 of EPS research grants in the area of energy (c. £80m)• Impact and social responsibility are key drivers
• Energy is a significant operational cost for the University• The University must demonstrate to HEFCE that it meets a 2020
carbon reduction target
• Greater Manchester is recognised by DECC as a ‘Low Carbon Pioneer City’
Key Energy Challenges• Reducing energy usage in a growing University –
design, widgets and people
• Integrated management of energy usage within a growing city
• Adaptation to climate change
• Increased penetration of electric vehicles
Example Activities• University owns a 6.6kV distribution network to feed electrical energy to
all campus buildings• This network supports a range of activities including:
– First installation of broadband over power cable – an essential component of the smart grid
– High resolution smart meters giving us second by second readings of energy consumption
• Development of an exemplar laboratory in SSB which has seen students and staff develop facilities used for research and teaching which include:– Automatic heating control valves / window openers– User comfort feedback system– Lightning controls– Occupancy sensors
High Resolution Energy Monitors
Further Afield• Greater Manchester has agreed a deal with NEDO to deploy a
large scale trial of electrification of heat in social housing• Such large scale trials happening on our doorstep provide a
significant opportunity for researcher engagement
• The University is now in Cumbria as well as in Manchester – what opportunities exist in this rural environment?