Organised by , the workshop provided an engaging platform for sharing the latest advancements in SF₆ leak mitigation, lifecycle management of SF₆ alternatives, retrofill replacement interventions, and new applications for high-voltage systems. The event featured insightful presentations from industry leaders, including Hitachi Energy, GE Vernova and Siemens Energy, and concluded with closing remarks from NGET.

Attendees were offered technical tours of the National Graphene Institute and High Voltage Laboratory, showcasing state-of-the-art research facilities. The event included representatives from network utilities across Great Britain, Ireland and France, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange.

The workshop demonstrated the commitment of key industry players to advance SF₆ alternatives and pave the way for more sustainable power systems in the future.

Led by Professor Deborah Greaves at the University of Plymouth, the Supergen ORE Hub includes co-directors from a consortium of ten universities. From Swag直播, serves as a Co-Director and is an Early Career Researcher (ECR) Co-Lead.

The report, aimed at researchers, industry, policymakers, and the public, summarises the current impacts of climate change and the UK鈥檚 progress in reducing carbon emissions. It outlines offshore renewable energy deployment pathways needed for a just, sustainable and secure energy transition, with 2040 identified as a key milestone towards the UK 2050 Net Zero goals.

Key findings from the report include:

• Achieving 100 GW of offshore wind energy by 2040 is critical, requiring a nearly seven times increase in capacity. Radical innovation is essential to optimise and scale up growth.
• Tidal stream energy has the potential to grow alongside offshore wind and could reach over 11 GW of capacity in UK waters. Rapid progress is required, to deliver the EU SET Plan target of 6 GW deployment of tidal stream by 2050.
• Wave energy has significant potential, with an estimated exploitable resource of 25 GW in the UK. Deployment of 12 GW of wave and tidal stream by 2050 could add 拢40 billion GVA to the UK economy and reduce energy balancing costs by 拢1 billion annually. Investment in innovation over the next decade is crucial to achieving this potential.

Professor Tim Stallard said: 鈥淭he ORE Outlook 2040 report highlights the high potential for Offshore Renewable Energy sources to contribute to the UK meeting its Net Zero goals. The growth required cannot be realised by upscaling current approaches alone and urgent action is needed to accelerate innovation and deployment.鈥�

The report also explores ORE development through lenses of planning and consenting, people, supply chain, and infrastructure and grid. Investment in research and innovation is highlighted as crucial to de-risking new technologies, reducing costs, improving performance and ensuring the UK retains its technological leadership on the global stage.

The Supergen ORE Hub, established by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), aims to deliver strategic and coordinated research on sustainable power generation and supply.

The Albany M4 project, led by Professor Christophe Gaudin and Dr. Hugh Wolgamot, and coordinated by Dr. Wiebke Eberling of the University of Western Australia, aims to explore the potential of wave energy to support local decarbonisation efforts along Australia鈥檚 Great Southern coast. The launch is a quarter-scale demonstration model designed specifically for this application and will absorb 1-10kW in the target sea-states. Sensors on the model will provide real-time data on energy production and performance.

The M4 project is fully open-access with all data collected during the device鈥檚 deployment being made available to scientists, developers, and the public. By making the performance data accessible to all, the project aims to drive further innovation in renewable energy.

The M4, or Moored Multi-Mode Multibody, is an innovative surface-riding wave energy converter consisting of multiple floats, connected by beams, in a 1-2-1 float arrangement for the Albany tests. The middle floats each support a hinge, and relative rotation between the bow and stern floats, due to the movement of the waves, creates power in a generator. It uses a single mooring point that allows the M4 to naturally turn and face the waves for better energy capture.

The M4 highlights Swag直播鈥檚 leading role in renewable energy innovation and has been developed over the past decade with support from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the European Union. British Maritime Technology (BMT) was responsible for the structural and mooring design for Albany, while the power take-off (PTO) design was led by Dr Judith Apsley from Swag直播鈥檚 Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and further developed with the support of Dr Nuwantha Fernando at RMIT University, Melbourne.

The launch, funded with 4.8 million AUD from the WA state government and the Blue Economy Cooporative Research Centre, with similar in-kind contributions, also showcases the wider benefits of emerging renewable technologies, with six local contractors and manufacturers contributing to the building, assembling, deploying, and decommissioning of the device in Albany.

Swag直播鈥檚 Hydrodynamics Lab played a key role in the development of the M4. Located in the heart of Swag直播, this state-of-the-art facility allows researchers to simulate ocean conditions and test renewable energy designs. 

Professor Peter Stansby highlighted its importance, stating: 鈥淭he Hydrodynamics Lab is vital for advancing renewable energy research. While computational modelling provides valuable predictions, experimental validation is essential for understanding and optimising complex systems.鈥�

For more information about Swag直播鈥檚 contributions to offshore renewable energy systems visit our webpage.

This ambitious project funded through Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) Beta Phase, a competition ran by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and Ofgem, is part of an initiative designed to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the UK鈥檚 power grid. 

With 拢2.4 million in new funding for Swag直播, the research will build on 鈥檚 work for SF₆-free retrofill intervention techniques that could supplant SF₆ without having to replace or significantly modify existing SF₆-designed equipment. These investigations, in partnership with NGET, were named 鈥楤est Innovation in Net Zero and Sustainability鈥� at the 2022鈥檚 E&T Innovation Awards.  

This project will be led by Dr Tony Chen, Reader in High Voltage Engineering in Swag直播鈥檚 Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. He will be joined by , Professor in Chemical Engineering, and , Professor in Artificial Intelligence.  

The impact of this project is expected to be wide-ranging and could lead to significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. 

The project will further develop aspects of SF₆ management based on findings in its alpha phase and will explore the challenges and opportunities in SF₆ replacement and management.  

The projects areas of focus include comparing different intervention strategies, developing energy-efficient methods for disposing SF₆, modelling of SF₆ leakage from switchgear equipment to better inform asset management strategy, and studying alternative gas blends that could replace SF₆ in the longer term through retrofill intervention. These efforts are expected to lead to significant technological advancements, providing solutions that could be applied to other sectors that use SF₆, such as high-voltage particle accelerators and future electrified transportation systems. 

This initiative could make a substantial contribution to the UK鈥檚 carbon reduction targets. If successful, its strategies for extending the lifespan of industry assets would also ensure a more reliable operation, lead to lower energy bills for consumers, and reduce the overall costs of running the national electricity network.  

By working with policymakers, industry leaders, and international standards bodies, the Swag直播 team are aiming to shape global regulations, continuing to position the UK as a leader in sustainable energy solutions. Their vital research could make a significant contribution to world-wide efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector, helping to close the gap between an unsustainable present and a more sustainable future.