Project VOLT is set to try and unlock the potential of microgrid sites across the North East of England, with hydrogen playing a role.
Exploring multi-vector microgrids to support decarbonisation and enhance energy resilience, the project will look to combine renewable energy, hydrogen and energy storage. The project brings together Northern Powergrid, LCP Delta and Newcastle University and has been funded by Ofgem’s Strategy Innovation Fund.
Crucially, this is a discovery phase project, though the researchers are working to secure funding for actual deployment of the suggested solutions in the sites explored.
Professor Haris Patsios, Professor of Smart Energy Systems at Newcastle University School of Engineering, said the project was a “fantastic opportunity” to build resilience and reduce the carbon footprint of energy systems at a local level.
Patsios continued: “Industrial and commercial sites in heavy-emission zones, such as ports, airports, and manufacturing hubs, face critical challenges in decarbonisation and resilience. These areas have complex energy demands and often lack solutions to integrate renewable energy, adapt to dynamic consumption patterns, and ensure reliability during supply disruptions. Barriers like regulatory constraints, infrastructure limitations, and cost concerns further hinder progress.”
