University of Warwick and National Grid to expand £1.5m partnership

THE University of Warwick and National Grid have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to extend the strategic alliance they have operated for last two years.

To date that alliance has engaged in more than £1.5m worth of research and studentships in areas such as electricity transmission asset management, gas transmission, microtunnelling, and cyber security.

National Grid has also worked with Warwick engineers to enhance the ability of the national transmission network to use more sources of renewable energy.

The new agreement will see the two organisations collaborate further in these areas and also explore new themes such as big data and energy storage.

The alliance has also delivered a great deal of partnership community work, particularly with young people, including training for young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEETs) to help them into work.

The University of Warwick’s vice-chancellor Professor Sir Nigel Thrift said: “Warwick’s research strengths in a range of technologies are crucial to energy supply, and our shared desire to support the development of young people’s skills and training have been central to our partnership to date and will drive even greater collaboration through this new memorandum of understanding.”

David Wright, director of electricity transmission asset management at National Grid, said: “We know that Warwick is at the forefront in terms of innovative research and an investment that seeks to encourage advancement in engineering and technology is an investment that will pay dividends for everyone in the future.”