A “next-generation” energy station which could transform the way communities are powered is being developed at Hull University.
The unique concept would see several renewable fuels including household waste, solar and hydro power, wind and biofuels feed into local community stations, where they would be converted to energy and distributed across the region.
The project, led by Professor Xudong Zhao, is the first of its kind to integrate and convert multiple energy sources, and could improve energy efficiency and reduce waste.
Professor Zhao, director at the Centre for Sustainable Energy Technologies at the University of Hull, said smart energy systems could play a vital role in ensuring the UK hits its 2050 target to become net-zero for carbon emissions.
He said: “The UK has a number of critical and challenging objectives around energy, and at the centre of this is powering the economy by ensuring security of supply, keeping bills as low as possible for families and businesses, and decarbonising and efficiency enhancement are the most cost-effective, affordable way.
“A smart integrated energy system, based around new forms of flexibility, could help the UK deliver its objectives.
“The station is a unique concept – we will have the energy conversion process take place at the same station which will generate energy at a high efficiency, and waste energy from the station could be distributed across the region.”
Having localised stations around Hull would decentralise the way energy is distributed.
It would remove the need for a costly upgrade of the national grid, the university argued, by collecting and distributing energy within communities, rather than drawing on power nationally.
The energy stations would work by integrating low carbon technologies including heat pump and heat storage facilities, combined heat and power units and hydrogen fuel technologies to meet the power demands of customers.
If successful, the concept could provide a new way to power residential and commercial buildings, industry and transport, for example electric vehicles.
To meet future energy targets, Professor Zhao said innovation such as a localised community energy station would be critical.
He said: “Delaying action means it is more likely we will get locked into a more expensive, less resilient energy system.
“This could transform the way we use energy and the way we interact with energy.”
The university announcement was made at the Waterline Summit in Hull last week.
The conference, at the city’s Bonus Arena, attracted over 1,000 delegates to discuss and debate how to tackle climate change in the Humber region.
At the summit, the university also announced an ambitious eight-year plan to become carbon neutral by 2027.
