Energy and environment

The major sector-specific technical and measurement priorities identified through industry consultation for energy and environment are:

Sources of clean energy

• Evaluate new technology performance
• Ensure the safety of energy technologies
• Improve energy affordability
• Minimise the impact of energy on the environment

Transitioning our energy system

• Integrate new technology into existing infrastructure
• Develop a smart electricity grid

Protecting the environment

• Monitor global-scale changes to the environment
• Detect and quantify emissions of greenhouse gases
• Identify the sources of air pollution

Using environmental data

• Increase the uptake of space-borne environmental data
• Reduce concentrations of greenhouse gases and health-relevant air pollutants

There are a number of themes woven through the measurement challenges specified that will need to be considered at a macro level. These are:

• Developing low cost sensors and data networks. There is a need for lower-cost sensors in new areas such as detecting greenhouse gas emissions, managing the electricity grid and monitoring the health of energy infrastructure.

• Testing and verifying the claims of new technologies used in the low carbon economy, to give investors and customers confidence.

• Developing accurate and internationally comparable standards, to promote more accurate monitoring on a global scale.

• Supporting the growth of the energy and environment sector. The UK has a strategy to lead in the provision of climate services, and is looked-to internationally for advice on climate change, air quality and energy.

NPL is working broadly to overcome the sector challenges identified by industry, maximising value and continuing to align to UK energy and environment sector challenges. These are:

• To support the roll out of electric vehicles, through conducting research into next-generation battery technologies, to increase their lifetime and develop new techniques for testing the claims and viability of new batteries

• To develop new approaches to environmental monitoring and pollution reduction. We assess the accuracy of low-cost air quality sensors and provide confidence in measurements of greenhouse gases, to increase our understanding of air pollution and ensure data can be used to make decisions on tackling climate change and poor air quality

• To reduce the cost and ensure the safety of energy technologies. We work with industry to provide new measurement tools for emerging technologies like hydrogen, helping to ensure their safe commercialisation.

• To make the UK’s nuclear energy industry safer. We support industry through cost-effective decommissioning and support for automation of hazardous activity.