Clydebank-based Together Energy has joined ground-breaking project Rewire-NW to design a city-wide smart energy system to move closer to zero-carbon and save money for customers.
The two-year pilot project in Warrington will use 5G and data intelligence to work out where energy savings could be made.
Its £2.8 million funding comes 50% from its 12 partners from the energy industry, local government, charity and academia, and 50% from the UK Research and Innovation national funding agency.
Warrington Borough Council bought a 50% stake in Together Energy for £18 million in October last year.
Together Energy chief executive Paul Richards said, “Collaboration is definitely the way forward to initiate new thinking and share investment to drive change in the energy market. We’re looking forward to developing practical changes that will ultimately benefit customers and communities at large.”
The project is one of 10 smart energy initiatives to be recognised in a competition run by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), a public body sponsored by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, designed to help achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
It is being led by the charity Pure Leapfrog and will aims for average cost savings of 25% and to meet the Fifth Carbon Budget target to reduce the UK’s greenhouse emissions.
Claire Hanratty, CEO, Pure Leapfrog said, “Project Rewire gives us a unique opportunity to secure a seat at the table for community energy, when designing the next generation of low carbon energy systems. This will ensure that future energy systems will have to consider their social impact as well as environmental and that the energy transition is a ‘just transition’.
Together Energy is social employer which provides opportunities and training for disadvantaged young people. It offers low priced dual energy tariffs for up to a three year fixed term.
