Narec - Narec is increasingly recognised as the national centre for the UK dedicated to accelerating the deployment and grid integration of renewable energy and low carbon generation technologies, utilising offshore wind, wave, tidal, solar PV and thermal power.

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Future Transport Technologies

Projects

Case Study - Alternative Fuels
Narec recognises that alternative fuel technologies for low carbon transport are developing along parallel lines, with security of supply acting as one of the major drivers for the adoption of low carbon transport in the future.
Narec is working with biofuel producers in the UK to develop fuels from non-food crops, using algae and bacteria, to break down biomass for processing. These non-food crop competing technologies have markets in ‘Flex Fuel’ vehicles which can accept a wider variation of fuel types and mixes.
The safe storage of hydrogen in fuel cell powered vehicles will be essential for hydrogen to become a viable alternative to traditional fuels. Narec is helping to design systems to safely encapsulate hydrogen in a way that is both safe and clean to use.
Case Study - EV Charging infrastructure
Romag PowerPark solar canopy
To inform the design of the Romag PowerPark solar canopy, Narec carried out a study to explore people’s driving habits in relation to the capabilities of technologies currently on the market. Analysis included:

  • Data on UK car daily usage;
  • Comparison of battery types currently available;
  • Information on current vehicles, mileage range, battery sizes, charge rates, charge durations, running cost per mile;
  • Research and reporting on different socket types available for recharging.
The development of the PowerPark canopy concept provides electric vehicle owners with the opportunity to charge their car and generate renewable electricity, while it is parked at work, the supermarket, or even at home. Each PowerPark bay can generate a peak power output of approx 1.7kW, and will provide between 1100 and 1400 kilowatt hours per annum depending on UK location.
Case Study - Low Carbon Developments
Reed Street housing scheme
Energy efficiency is the most cost-effective way of reducing energy demand and carbon emissions. For new generation, efficient decentralised or distributed energy systems, generating electricity and heat near to the end user, will play a major role in helping to address climate change and ensure security of energy supplies. Narec works with developers of technologies to accelerate the future deployment of distributed energy (DE) technologies and with end users to reduce energy wastage and install appropriate proven DE systems for bespoke industrial, commercial and residential applications.
The Reed Street Housing Scheme in South Tyneside intends to build 21 carbon negative homes and will demonstrate the use of hydrogen as a fuel for cooking and transport. The project is headed by the housing association Four Housing Group and environmental charity Groundworks. Funds for the development were provided by the Regional Development Agency for the North East of England, One North East.
Narec has developed the energy strategy, which will allow the development to achieve carbon negative status and also addresses fuel poverty for the occupants. It is envisaged that this development will provide a future template for developments needing to comply with the new domestic zero carbon emission laws in 2016.
The following work was undertaken by Narec to inform the
energy strategy:

  • Thermal modelling using computer software;
  • Demand forecasting using real world data;
  • Feasibility studies for renewable and low carbon electrical and thermal generator technologies;
  • Considerations for the implementation of smart monitoring technologies.
Two of the dwellings at Reed Street will use hydrogen as their fuel for cooking, supplied by hydrogen generated on site from renewable sources. The system will generate enough spare capacity for a hydrogen filling station to be installed on the site and to fuel a converted community transport vehicle.


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