Realising Energy Storage Technologies in Low-carbon Energy Systems (RESTLESS)

Lead Research Organisation: University College London
Department Name: Bartlett Sch of Env, Energy & Resources

Abstract

This project aims to understand how novel energy storage technologies might best be integrated into an evolving, lower-carbon UK energy system in the future. It will identify technical, environmental, public acceptability, economic and policy issues, and will propose solutions to overcome barriers to deployment.

As electricity is increasingly generated by highly-variable renewables and relatively inflexible nuclear power stations, alternatives to the use of highly-flexible fossil-fuelled generation as a means of balancing the electricity system will become increasingly valuable. Numerous technologies for storing electricity are under development to meet this demand, and as the cost of storage is reduced through innovation, it is possible that they could have an important role in a low-carbon energy system. The Energy Storage Supergen Hub is producing a UK roadmap for energy storage that will be the starting point for this project.

The value of grid-scale storage to the electricity system has been assessed for some scenarios. For extreme cases comprising only renewable and nuclear generation, the value is potentially substantial. However, the value of energy storage to the UK depends on the costs and benefits relative to sharing electricity imbalances through greater European interconnection, demand-side electricity response, and wider energy system storage, and the optimal approaches to integrating energy storage at different levels across the whole energy system are not well understood. This project will take a broader approach than existing projects by considering energy system scenarios in which storage options are more integrated across the whole energy system, using a series of soft-linked energy and electricity system models. Demand-side response and increased interconnection will be considered as counterfactual technologies that reduces the need for storage.

Three broad hypotheses will be investigated in this project: (i) that a whole energy system approach to ES is necessary to fully understand how different technologies might contribute as innovation reduces costs and as the UK energy system evolves; (ii) that a range of technological, economic and social factors affect the value of ES, so should all be considered in energy system scenarios; and, (iii) that the economic value of the difference between good and bad policy decisions relating to the role of energy storage in the transition to low-carbon generation is in the order of £bns.

A broader, multidisciplinary approach, which extends beyond the techno-economic methodologies that are adopted by most studies, will be used to fully assess the value of energy storage. This project will therefore also examine public acceptability issues for the first time, compare the environmental impacts of storage technologies using life-cycle analyses, and examine important economic issues surrounding market design to realise the value of storage services provided by consumers. All of these analyses will be underpinned by the development of technology-neutral metrics for ES technologies to inform the project modelling work and the wider scientific community. These multidisciplinary considerations will be combined in a series of integrated future scenarios for energy storage to identify no-regrets technologies. The project will conclude by examining the implications of these scenarios for UK Government policy, energy regulation and research priorities. The analyses will be technical only to the point of identifying the requirements for energy storage, with absolutely no bias towards or against any classes of storage technology.

Planned Impact

Renewable and nuclear electricity generation is expected to have an important role in reducing UK CO2 emissions to achieve the 80% reduction by 2050 enacted by Parliament. Energy storage has been identified as a key potential technology to facilitate this transition. Yet substantial investments in energy storage technologies, and Government policies necessary to support them, are currently difficult to justify because the overall value of energy storage to the UK, and to companies in the supply chain, is opaque. This project will address these issues, which is why the Renewable Energy Association are so supportive in their attached letter and why they have agreed to become project partners.

DECC have specifically identified the "potential contributions to system balancing ...by electricity demand-side response (DSR), smart grids, interconnectors, and ES technologies (including heat and electric vehicles)" as an area in which they need further scientific evidence. This project will examine all of these areas holistically for the first time and will produce useable evidence using models that meet Government quality assurance standards, where possible. Improvements to the UKTM-UCL model from this project will directly benefit Government policy analysis as DECC will use this model as their principal tool for long-term energy system analyses from 2015.

The central and devolved governments will be able to use the insights and the models that we create as evidence to inform policy decisions about the development of the GB electricity networks, in particular policies that minimise energy costs, maximise decarbonisation and avoid unintended consequences such as stranded assets. The potential impact and importance of this project is demonstrated by the decision of DECC and the Scottish and Welsh Governments to become project partners and join the Project Advisory Board.

This project will take a whole systems approach to energy storage and will value energy storage as an integral part of the wider UK energy system. The integrated scenarios that we develop will account for technological, economic, social and other considerations relating to energy storage, and will thus be able to produce practical and viable plans for energy storage investments with demonstrable value across the supply chain. Electricity generation and network companies will be able to use the tools that this project creates to inform investment decisions, which is why SP Energy Networks, who own GB transmission and distribution networks, are partners of this project. Electricity network reinforcement is expensive and unpopular with the UK public and this project could lead to fewer new power lines and a more secure electricity supply, which could also improve the public opinion of renewables and accelerate roll-out of low-carbon technologies.

UK consumers are becoming more engaged in the operation of the energy system and already interact with mechanisms such as feed-in tariffs and the Renewable Heat Incentive. It is conceivable that consumers could provide important services to the electricity system in the future through the provision of small-scale energy storage or demand-side response. This project will assess the potential value of energy storage for these purposes and will consider how this value can be realised and rewarded through the electricity market.
 
Description The work on metrics has led to a more sophisticated approach towards comparing and assessing energy storage technologies. By distinguishing the many parameters that influence costs and performance, the team created a database that could manage these parameters, allowing the user to move away from the generic technology cost estimates that can often be misleading. Users of the database can use these parameters to identify the data that is relevant to their particular needs and therefore produce a much more tailored and accurate estimate of cost and performance. This can feed directly into more precise and targeted research. For users investigating different technologies for a given application, the database makes comparisons between technologies accessible without oversimplifying. The database has been made publicly accessible for all to use, and is now being refreshed by the project.

A new version of the UK TIMES energy system model has been developed with a much higher temporal resolution. This has been designed to identify energy storage needs with high penetrations of wind turbines and solar PV panels. As it appears to still underestimate the need for energy storage, it has been paired with two models with higher time resolution. A discussion is ongoing with the IEA ETSAP technology collaboration programme about how the high-resolution version could be improved to better represent the need for energy storage in the future.

The whole energy system operational model ESTIMO includes the hourly modelling of electricity and heat demands (including extreme weather), intermediate conversion including district heating and electrofuels, and storage (heat, synfuels, electricity, BEVs), for several European countries. We found that interconnector trade would reduce the need for electricity storage by 30%. In stress periods (e.g. low wind and winter temperatures), EV car fleet might be left with almost empty batteries for several days in a row. This highlighted the fundamental need for a system control that optimally manage storages in systems with high shares of wind and solar generation.

The hourly-resolution dispatch and planning model at the University of Edinburgh has a sophisticated representation of UK electricity market dispatch. We redeveloped it to represent different types of electricity storage. The need for storage starts to increase substantially once the renewable penetration exceeds 50%. However, we found that the need for storage is also sensitive to the shape of the electricity load curve, which in the future will depend on the prevalence of electric heating and transport.

We have examined public attitudes to energy storage through a series of events. We found that many members of the public are unfamiliar with the concept of intermittency and curtailment of renewable generation. Views of energy storage technologies are best characterised as ambivalent and conditional, with no technology or governance wholly acceptable or unacceptable. The desire for both independence and convenience varies between people. Fairness is a key issue that has not been given sufficient consideration in policy discourse.
Exploitation Route The RESTLESS energy storage technology database provides a novel, comprehensive methodological foundation for comparing energy storage technologies. It was launched to the academic community at the UKES 2016 energy storage conference in Birmingham. It is useful to understand the differences between energy storage technologies, particularly batteries, and could inform future research investment decisions and research targets.

A new version of the UK TIMES model is being co-developed by UCL and the UK Government, under the auspices of the UK Energy Research Centre Phase 4, and is incorporating many of the improvements around flexible timeslicing and energy storage that were developed in RESTLESS. National Grid are using UK TIMES to inform their Future Energy Scenarios.

The European ANTARES grid model developed at the University of Strathclyde has been further developed in the "The value of Interconnection in a Changing EU Electricity system" project (EP/R021333/1), and used to inform UK Government and National Grid interconnector planning.
Sectors Energy

URL http://www.restless.org.uk/
 
Description A new version of the UK TIMES model was developed by UCL as part of the RESTLESS project. A range of improvements including flexible timeslicing, energy storage and energy service demand load curves were introduced. This RESTLESS version has subsequently become the core version of UK TIMES after having updates made by the UK Government introduced to it by the UCL team. The UK Government used this version to coordinate their specialist teams and produce the underpinning evidence for their landmark Net Zero Strategy that was published in October 2021. It was also used to provide evidence to justify their decision to accept the Sixth Carbon Budget recommendation of the Climate Change Committee. Separately, National Grid are using this new version to inform their Future Energy Scenarios.
First Year Of Impact 2019
Sector Energy,Government, Democracy and Justice
Impact Types Societal

Economic

Policy & public services

 
Description Alternate Delegate to the Energy Storage Technology Collaboration Programme of the International Energy Agency, for Department of Business Energy and Industrial Strategy
Geographic Reach Multiple continents/international 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
URL https://iea-es.org/
 
Description Contribution to POSTnote on energy storage
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
URL https://post.parliament.uk/research-briefings/post-pn-0688/
 
Description Dr Christina Demski secondment to BEIS
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
Impact Academic advice was provided to the UK Government on public engagement and Net Zero
 
Description Member of EPSRC Energy Scientific Advisory Committee
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Membership of a guideline committee
URL http://epsrc.ukri.org/research/ourportfolio/themes/energy/programme/further-information-about-the-pr...
 
Description Member of the UK Government DUKES Advisory Panel
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Membership of a guideline committee
 
Description Membership of a guideline committee - Member of EPSRC Energy Scientific Advisory Committee
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
 
Description Oral evidence to House of Commons Select Committee
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
URL https://committees.parliament.uk/event/17108/formal-meeting-oral-evidence-session/
 
Description Response to UK Government call for evidence on energy storage regulation (part of the flexible energy systems call) using RESTLESS research insights
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
 
Description member of project evaluation committee for Brazilian energy regulator ANEEL
Geographic Reach South America 
Policy Influence Type Membership of a guideline committee
Impact 23 projects were selected for funding by the regulator; as the projects are executed, the results will feed into future policy and regulation such that the Brazilian energy system can be operated efficiently and sustainably.
URL http://www.aneel.gov.br/sala-de-imprensa-exibicao-2/-/asset_publisher/zXQREz8EVlZ6/content/agencia-a...
 
Description Generation Integrated Energy Storage - A Paradigm Shift
Amount £1,040,000 (GBP)
Funding ID EP/P023436/1 
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 05/2017 
End 11/2021
 
Description Spatial Optimisation of Storage Technologies for Weather-resilient Electricity Systems (SPOT-RES)
Amount £100,000 (GBP)
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 04/2018 
End 06/2019
 
Title ESTIMO Energy Space Time Integrated Model Optimiser 
Description An optimisation model designed to estimate the optimum balance of storage and transmission in a high renewables European energy system across 30 countries, with a focus on the electricity vector. A particular objective of the model is to look at the correlations between meteorology driven energy demands and variable renewables (e.g. wind, solar). We can investigate how long distance, continental trade via transmission can reduce the need for energy storage, which will otherwise be substantial because of variations in ambient temperature and therefore space heat and air conditioning demands, and in renewables, particularly wind and solar. This meteorology-demand-renewable correlation is generally poorly modelled by other researchers without sufficient spatiotemporal resolution; ESTIMO will advance the methods and data used in this field as well as influence the design of renewable, low emission systems to meet building and transport demands. The model might also be used to quantify the impact of climate change on demand and supply, and add to consideration of its effects on population. The model involves simulatioon of renewable generation and demand, scenario modelling of each aspect and optimisation of storage and transmission. 
Type Of Material Computer model/algorithm 
Year Produced 2018 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact The model will not be directly available but timeseries from the following elements are made available to the rest of the RESTLESS team. A. Assemble global meteorological data (ambient temperature, solar radiation, wind speed, humidity, hourly over 37 years at 0.5o latitude/longitude resolution) and create a system to allow access for the group and others in BSEER. These data have been weighted by 1 km2 population data for each country to produce meteorology reflective of the country as a whole to drive the demand modelling. [A later possibility is to add air pollution such as from the WHO and use population weighting of environment and pollution to find global exposure.] B. Develop a demand simulation model using population weighted environment along with assumptions about buildings etc. to drive building (electricity, heating, air conditioning etc.) and transport service demands. The energy service demands are met by energy converters of consumers and intermediate systems including district heating, including heat pumps and solar heating which are environmentally driven. 
 
Title Population weighted meteorological timeseries 
Description • Population weighted data on temperature at 2m (K), wind speed at 2m (m/s), net downward solar radiation at the surface (W/m2), specific humidity at 2 m (kg/kg), Wet bulb temperature (K) and Dew Point temperature (K) for all countries (globally), columns are 3 letter ISO code, rows are each hour between 1980,1,1, and 2017,10,31. o Data derived from NASA MERRA reanalysis and GPW population database. o Files starting with Euro contain European data, files starting with World contain non European data 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2018 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact Made available for use by the RESTLESS team 
 
Title RESTLESS Energy Storage Database 
Description The database brings together a range of academic, government and industry perspectives on energy storage, with a focus on costs and performance. The aim is to move away from the current paradigm of misused capital cost metrics and provide the foundations for more nuanced cost estimation. To this end, the database compiles detailed cost and performance data from selected reputable sources, with careful structuring to ensure compatibility of assumptions. The database is designed for collaborative use and updating, and can be shared freely thanks to its content derived from the public domain. Insight into the numerical data is greatly improved by a user interface designed to interrogate the database graphically. This helps users to summarise precisely the data relevant to their research question. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2016 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact Use of the database is ongoing within several research groups. It is still too early to report on concrete outcomes as a result of database use. 
 
Title Renewable generation timeseries 
Description • Normalised wind and solar generation (MWoutput/MW installed capacity) timeseries for every European country, columns are 3 letter ISO code, rows are each hour between 1980,1,1, and 2017,10,31. o Wind timeseries are aggregated as [onshore/offshore] and subsequently [production/construction/approved/planned/estimated] as defined by locational data from thewindpower.net and estimated locations filling spatial gaps. Locations of these capacities are available on request. ? The location and status of capacity are shown in the filenames ? Non-European country timeseries can be derived if capacity location data are provided. o Single solar timeseries using assumed locations within country (due to lack of data) ? Available in the next few weeks (as of 25/01/18). ? Non-European country timeseries to follow. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2018 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact Data made available for use by RESTLESS team, also feeds into the ESTIMO model 
 
Title Stimulus materials for public engagement research 
Description Qualitative materials generated in order to support public perceptions research. Materials were designed to stimulate deliberation and engagement among members of the lay public about energy storage technologies within wider processes of energy systems change as part of a wider deliberative workshop methodology. Materials included: (1) Technology Factsheets providing a non-technical introduction to 11 key energy storage technologies. (2) Posters describing different ways of managing relationships between energy users, producers and storage technologies providers. (3) Three short scenarios or storylines describing how energy storage may impact on a person's life and local environment. A guidance note was also produced, detailing the purpose of the research and how materials were produced and used. This was done to assist other researchers in using or adapting the materials for future public engagement research.. 
Type Of Technology New/Improved Technique/Technology 
Year Produced 2017 
Impact The materials formed the basis of methodology for work package 5 of the RESTLESS project and has been made freely available online for use and adaption by other public engagement researchers. 
URL http://www.restless.org.uk/project-results
 
Description 1st CPFL International Workshop for Energy Storage 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact The "1st CPFL International Workshop for Energy Storage" gathered technical, commercial and regulatory knowledge, approaching how Energy Storage is being discussed internationally. The event also aimed to share experiences and knowledge about the theme for the electrical sector and show the importance of energy storage systems associated or not to Distributed Generation. This opportunity was to bring knowledge of another component of Smart Grids and allow evaluate the possibilities of new business, in addition to the improvement in the electrical energy supply.
Over 50 people attended the workshop with live streaming of the event. Questions and discussions followed presentations, informing participants.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL http://www.rge-rs.com.br/energias-sustentaveis/inovacao/workshop-energy-storage/Paginas/default.aspx
 
Description 2050 Calculator Update 'The MacKay Carbon Calculator" workshop 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact about 20 attendees at workshop in Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to provide input/advice on government-developed tool for public engagement around energy; discussions informed updated tool
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description British Council workshop on "Bilateral Cooperation between Mexico and the United Kingdom in Energy Sustainability" 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact A bilateral workshop to identify the strategic priority areas where UK and Mexican researchers can collaborate in joint R&D projects, which led to a call for research proposals under the Newton Fund.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Contribution to IEA Expert Group on R&D Priority Setting and Evaluation 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact The goal of the workshop was to learn from examples of how the transition from blue skies research to application has been successfully undertaken in other sectors for example, space research, medicine or solid state physics in the context of microelectronics, and to identify from current basic research selected areas or ideas that might potentially have a huge impact on the energy sector. This should inform an understanding of how different governments engage in, fund, and structure their investments in energy-related basic science programmes.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL http://www.ieadsm.org/wp/files/IEA_EGRD_Blue_Sky_Workshop_Final.pdf
 
Description Contribution to UK Energy Research Centre response to the Ofgem/BEIS Call for Evidence on "A smart, flexible energy system" 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Members of the RESTLESS project contributed to the first six questions, on energy storage, in the UK Energy Research Centre response to the Ofgem/BEIS Call for Evidence on "A smart, flexible energy system".
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Discussed energy storage regulatory research with Ofgem 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Paul Dodds and Giorgio Castagneto-Gissey were invited to Ofgem to discuss their research on the UK regulatory policy for energy storage.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description EU BRIDGE Working Group on Regulations 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact BRIDGE is a European Commission initiative which unites Horizon 2020 Smart Grid and Energy Storage Projects to create a structured view of cross-cutting issues which are encountered in the demonstration projects and may constitute an obstacle to innovation. The Regulation WG is providing evidence and advice to the Commission through discussion meetings and reports.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017,2018
URL http://www.h2020-bridge.eu/
 
Description Energy Research Partnership meeting on 'Net Zero' 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Presentation by me, followed by discussion in plenary, on the role of energy storage in 'net zero' scenarios for the energy system.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019,2020
 
Description Energy Storage Roadmap launch event 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact The UK Roadmap for Energy Storage Research and Innovation was launched in an open webinar with a presentation on the Roadmap, and contributions from stakeholders, including industry and academia. A panel Q&A followed. Over 50 attended the event, which was recorded and made available publicly through YouTube, viewed so far by 150+
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BvHvr6RX-Y
 
Description Energy Storage Seminar Series, INEEL, Brasilia 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact A series of seminars over four days, delivered to industry, policy makers and regulators in Brazil, describing technical and non-technical aspects of energy storage. This has led to joint proposals being submitted and further invitations to present in Brazil.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Energy Storage Steering Group 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact PI has joined the DECC Energy Storage Steering Group.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015,2016
 
Description Government Expert Workshop on the EU's Energy Market Design (London) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact The purpose of the workshop, with c. 30 stakeholders from policy and industry, was to seek views on the market that may be needed in the future when there will be significant levels of mature low carbon technologies, and the potential for the European Commission's forthcoming Energy Market Design initiative to address this.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description International Energy Agency's Grid Integration of Variable Renewables (GIVAR) Programme meeting 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Invited to the International Energy Agency's Grid Integration of Variable Renewables (GIVAR) Programme meeting in Paris with World Bank Consultation on Energy Storage Partnership; about 30 people at the meeting, with discussions to inform decisions made by the World Bank.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description International webinar 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Prof Nick Pidgeon gave a Scientific Advice for Policy in Europe (SAPEA) webinar on "Transitioning to new energy systems" on 11 October 2021.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.sapea.info/events/transitioning-to-new-energy-systems-what-impact-will-it-have-on-societ...
 
Description Keynote speaker at policy conference 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact I was keynote speaker at the Westminster Energy, Environment & Transport Forum policy conference on 'Next steps for energy storage in the UK', speaking on 'Integrating storage into the energy system - innovation and policy challenges'. The conference provided an overview of energy storage developments and future prospects to a high-level audience, with discussion around many topics.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.westminsterforumprojects.co.uk/publication/Energy-Storage-23
 
Description Lecture to the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy statistics team on the UK TIMES energy system model 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Talk on the UK TIMES energy system model, and how it uses national statistics, to the statistics team of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

This led to a follow-up meeting with the statistics team and them providing a substantial amount of useful information to improve our modelling.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Meeting with DECC Energy Strategy Networks and Markets team and European Policy team 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Two project team members visited DECC and presented an overview of the RESTLESS project. We agreed to: (i) send them two working papers that we are producing on the role of energy storage in UK and EU markets; and, (ii) produce a policy paper to inform a Call for Evidence, if possible.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Meeting with Vale/SENAI 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Meeting with Vale/SENAI about energy storage and other low-carbon technologies for the mining industry to consider how to lower their emissions in Brazil. Held at Imperial College on 12 November 2018 and organised by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Attended by Paul Dodds and Jonathan Radcliffe from RESTLESS.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Member of ETI/Energy Systems Catapult Advisory Board for an energy storage project 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact The ETI/Energy Systems Catapult has commissioned a novel UK energy system model with a high-resolution module that can identify the need for energy storage across the energy system. Paul Dodds joined the Advisory Board for this project, as the only academic, to oversee the development and testing of the model.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017,2018
 
Description Organising a workshop on the role of storage in future energy systems 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact The RESTLESS project organised a 1-day workshop with the EPSRC C-MADEnS and MY-STORE projects called "The role of storage in future energy systems: insights and challenges". The workshop was aimed at the policy and business communities, and was an opportunity for the three projects to disseminate some of their insights to national non-academic audiences. It took place on 13 November 2018 at Church House, Westminster Abbey, London.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Presentation at International Flow Battery Forum 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact The purpose of the IFBF is to raise the profile of flow batteries as a crucial technology within the electrical energy storage sector, to educate and inform a wide audience of the benefits, features and attributes of flow batteries. >200 delegates from 24 countries attended.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL http://www.flowbatteryforum.com/ifbf-2017/
 
Description Public Engagement Workshops 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Four, one-day workshops held with members of the public in Birmingham (x2), Abergavenny and Aberdeen as part of the projects research into perceptions of energy storage technologies. The workshops involved participants learning about and discussing processes of energy systems change as well as a broad range of storage technologies and other options for adding flexibility to the UK energy system. The aim of this activity was not to 'educate' in the traditional sense of science communication but rather to introduce the topic and allow participants to shape discussion about what they view to be the most important benefits, risks and criteria for evaluating emergent storage technologies. A number of materials (information sheets, narrative vignettes, posters, presentation slides) were developed to help stimulate discussion, and have been made freely available online in order to assist other public engagement activities around energy storage. Workshops were recorded and transcribed and will subsequently for the basis for academic papers and white papers to inform the development and deployment of more acceptable policies and technologies for energy storage.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL http://www.restless.org.uk/project-results
 
Description Quoted in BBC online news article on energy storage 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Interviewed and quoted by journalist for an article on novel energy storage
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-60066690
 
Description Scottish Renewables Low Carbon Heat Conference (Perth) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Describing research on using variable renewables in Scotland through distributed thermal energy storage to an audience of policy makers and technology developers, and others from research community.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Speaker at 'Net Zero Together' bootcamp 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The 'bootcamp' "focuses on upskilling employees so they become champions in the understanding of green skills, sustainability, and net zero within their organisations, and to encourage discussion around the three pillars of the course: sustainability, net zero, and life cycle assessment (LCA) & circular economy (CE)". I spoke on 'Overview of Factors affecting Energy in the UK' to a group of about 20, which involved much discussion on the various energy/net zero topics from across my research areas.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022,2023
 
Description Talk for U3A Macclesfield 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact About 35 attendees to a online talk on energy storage for Macclesfield U3A
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Talk to university student Energy Society 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Undergraduate students
Results and Impact Talk to student members of the Energy Society on decarbonisation in the West Midlands, with discussion.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description UKRI Research and Innovation Infrastructure workshop 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) was commissioned by the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy's Ministers to develop the first national research and innovation infrastructure roadmap. About 30 people at the workshop on energy infrastructure, providing input and expertise that informed the roadmap.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL http://www.ukri.org/research/infrastructure/