EPSRC Supergen Energy Networks £800,000 Flex Fund

Submission for Expressions of Interest extended to 22nd April

The Supergen Energy Networks (SEN) Hub brings together the vibrant and diverse energy networks community to gain a deeper understanding of the interactions and inter-dependencies of Energy Networks.  Led by Professor Phil Taylor from Newcastle University, the Hub integrates a wide range of industrial and academic partners with other energy network stakeholders. 

Current energy networks research does not fully embrace a whole systems approach.  In response to this the SEN Hub’s core research programme will investigate the physical multi-vector energy network infrastructure, markets and regulation, policy and society, ICT and data and risk and uncertainty as critical elements to modernise and integrate the infrastructures effectively.

In April 2019 we announced the launch of our £800,000 Flex Fund to provide support to the UK energy systems research sector.  This support will be awarded through a series of funding methods over the four-year programme of the Hub via:

• Responsive mode funding
• Directed funding calls

The consortium comprises seven leading academics across five UK academic institutions working closely with industrial and academic partners, namely Newcastle University, University of Bath, Cardiff University, University of Leeds and University of Manchester.    

Launch of the Second Funding Call

We are delighted to announce a Flex Fund call for Expressions of Interest (EOIs).  The Hub wishes to award a total of £400k of grant money to approximately 4 projects.  We will accept EOIs for projects of up to £125k FEC, and grants shall be awarded at 80% of FEC, as per EPSRC rules.  Applicants should meet the eligibility criteria for EPSRC applications.

The focus of this call is around RESILIENCE.  The Hub has three working groups looking at Climate Adaptation, Network Architectures and Markets and Regulation, and we wish to fund projects which address network resilience with one or more of the three working group topics as areas of focus, actively encouraging applications from all disciplines across the sector.

Documents containing futher details of the Flex Fund2 call documents are attached.

If you have any queries concerning any aspect of this call please contact the Supergen Energy Networks Hub Co-ordinator Linda Ward at linda.ward@ncl.ac.uk or call 0191 208 7704.