Innovate UK Grant Awarded to University of Edinburgh Spin out for Renewable Evergy Research

A collaboration between the School of Engineering, University spin-out ENIAN and the Data Lab will revolutionise the way renewables projects predict grid connection costs.

The Innovate UK grant worth half a million pounds will develop cost-of-interaction prediction algorithm to allow wind and solar developers to assess the cost of grid connection at an early stage and avoid planning pitfalls.

Cutting-edge big data and machine learning will leverage expertise in power-flow models and geographical information systems to create certainty in renewable projects and drive the transition to net-zero.

"We've done a lot of research on what causes commercial solar and wind power plants to fail", said Phillip Bruner, chief executive of ENIAN.

The algorithmwill help project managers to estimate previously-unexpected grid connection costs.

"We're excited to continue the successful collaboration with ENIAN in this cutting-edge Innovate UK funded project which can make a real difference for the drive to net zero", said Daniel Friedrich from the University of Edinburgh's School of Engineering.