06 September 2010 09:27 Central Networks puts the spotlight on the UK’s smarter energy future

Central Networks has created a plan to bring an ‘electricity internet’ to Milton Keynes and pave the way for how we’ll all be using energy in the future.

The plan builds on Milton Keynes Council’s Low Carbon Living Programme, which is already working to transform Milton Keynes into a showcase low carbon city.

In partnership with Milton Keynes Council, Central Networks has submitted a £20m bid to Ofgem’s Low Carbon Networks Fund, which, if successful, would  explore how best to establish an electricity smart grid to support smart meters, electric vehicles, electric heating and distributed generation – all important players in the transition to a low carbon energy future.

The bid, called MKSmart2020, would see Milton Keynes transformed into a low carbon example of how we might be living in 2020. With the help of the Milton Keynes community, Central Networks will explore how best to deliver reliable and cost-effective smart grid technology to support the introduction of low carbon technology at home and in businesses.

John Crackett, Managing Director of Central Networks, said: “The UK’s electricity networks need to become smarter to deal with the changes in electricity use and generation. In the future, we’ll have large amounts of information moving between the customer at home and the electricity distributor to help us manage the network effectively. At the same time, customers will be able to manage their energy use more effectively and install low carbon technologies like ground source heat pumps or solar panels more easily.

“Using Milton Keynes as a living laboratory, our bid sets out to show how we can best manage the demands that will be put on the electricity network in years to come. We believe MKSmart2020 can provide valuable insight to into technology which can be applied across the entire UK, which will help achieve the Government’s ambitious goal of reducing carbon emissions by 80 per cent by 2050.”

Milton Keynes, home of the UK’s first solar powered house and the UK’s first kerbside recycling scheme, is developing a Low Carbon Living Prospectus which sets out a vision for future sustainability.  Low carbon housing, smart grid technology, low emission vehicles and minimised waste initiatives will be delivered within a programme of social inclusion to engage and benefit all communities.

The Low Carbon Networks Fund has been set up to support large-scale trials of smart grid technology which will help the UK make the transition to a low carbon economy. Central Networks is seeking around £20m in funding towards the £32m project.

Central Networks’ MKSmart2020 joint bid, with Milton Keynes Council and Milton Keynes Partnership, includes bid partners Accenture, GE and Cisco Systems. Ofgem is due to announce winning bids of the Low Carbon Networks Fund in December 2010.

Central Networks is calling on Milton Keynes residents to get behind the bid and be kept up-to-date by registering their details at www.mksmart2020.co.uk.

Ends

Notes to editors:

·         Central Networks provides a reliable supply to 10 million people in central England through 133,000km of underground and overhead cables – enough to go round the Earth more than three times – and via almost 94,000 substations.

·         Central Networks covers an area from the Peak District in the north to parts of Bristol in the south, and from the Welsh Borders to the Lincolnshire Coast.

·         Milton Keynes Council (MKC) is a unitary authority working to deliver the best possible future for Milton Keynes by creating sustainable communities and opportunities for all. MKC is committed to Milton Keynes becoming a showcase low carbon city through delivery of the Low Carbon Living Programme. Milton Keynes has a population of 238,000 which is expected to grow to 305,000 by 2033

·         Milton Keynes Partnership was created in June 2004 is responsible for growth, development and investment in the new city.  It is a committee of the Homes and Communities Agency, the newly formed housing and regeneration agency for England, and brings together Milton Keynes Council, Local Strategic Partnership representatives from the health, community and business sectors and independent representation.

·         The Milton Keynes Low Carbon Living Programme is led by Milton Keynes Council and supported by Milton Keynes Partnership, Cranfield University and the Open University.