Prospering from the Energy Revolution Challenge: Full programme of funding announced

Funding will help businesses and researchers to create inexpensive, low carbon and resilient ways to provide energy.

The government is investing in a new ‘Prospering from the Energy Revolution Challenge’. UK Research & Innovation has announced full details of its fund for research and industry to develop future smart energy systems and prove their use at scale.

The energy revolution challenge will bring together businesses working with the best research and expertise to develop and demonstrate new approaches to provide cleaner, cheaper and resilient energy. This includes linking low-carbon power, heating and transport systems with energy storage and advanced IT to create intelligent, local energy systems and services.

This is part of the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund.

Areas of investment

The funding will be available for:

Smart local energy systems demonstrators and designs. We will invest in fast-tracking up to three practical local energy systems demonstrators and at least 10 whole system design studies. The practical demonstrators will build supply chain capabilities, deliver positive changes for energy consumers, and inform future projects.
Innovation accelerator fund. This will commercialise smart local energy system products and services, and engage with the best international research and innovation opportunities.
Research and integration services. A world-leading, interdisciplinary research programme will be commissioned to work alongside the Energy Systems Catapult which will provide coordination and technical support to demonstration and design projects.

Find out more

The demonstrator and concept and design competitions are open for applications. Find out how to apply for these competitions on the GOV.UK website.

Full details of the remaining competitions and funding will be announced shortly.

More about the challenge

The Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund will make sure that research and innovation is at the heart of the government’s Industrial Strategy. This sets out four grand challenges in industries in which the UK is determined to pioneer progress.

The energy revolution falls under the clean growth challenge, which will support the UK to be a world leader in low-carbon technologies, systems and services.