The UK has ambitious environmental targets to meet by 2020, including a 30% reduction in carbon emissions on 1990s levels. Cities around the UK are developing local low carbon programmes within this framework. Electricity networks and energy management in homes, schools and the workplace are key pillars to achieving this vision, requiring significant changes in the way we design and operate future energy systems. Project BRISTOL is focused on addressing these key challenges and assisting Bristol in its low carbon journey.
Western Power Distribution, the electricity distribution network operator for the Midlands, South Wales and the South West is leading Project BRISTOL with Siemens as its technical solution and integration partner. The project, considered by Ofgem to be “highly innovative” will test a number of areas to develop an optimum energy management solution for the city, including: trialling the benefits of battery storage, demand response and DC (direct current) networks within schools, homes and offices to help manage energy usage and network constraints for customers and distribution network operators (DNOs), responsible for operating the current networks. Electricity customers will be given more power over their own energy management through flexible tariffs and innovative battery storage options to power low-energy lighting, computers and smart appliances using customers’ photo-voltaic generation and/or off-peak electricity. The project is set to produce significant learnings.
As technical partner, Siemens is delivering smart monitoring and automation technologies for substations, offices, schools and homes and supplying battery storage and control equipment for innovative DC networks within these premises. Siemens is contributing energy efficient Information Communications Technology (ICT) equipment for social housing in the Bristol area, for up to ten schools and Bristol City Council Offices, including intelligent low energy DC lighting.
Council leader Barbara Janke said: "Bristol has led the way in recognising the importance of using smart technology to reduce the city's carbon emissions, launching the Smart City Bristol Programme in March 2011. Bristol and the South West have a strong micro-electronics sector, with particular expertise in smart grid, so there are significant economic opportunities for the city. Today's announcement of this £2.2 million investment is very welcome news and we look forward to working with Western Power Distribution, Siemens, the University of Bath and Knowle West Media Centre to deliver this pioneering project."
Paul Maher, managing director Siemens UK Transmission & Distribution, said: “We are delighted to be part of the BRISTOL initiative, focused on buildings and sustainable energy management. This is a project where we can leverage our solutions for sustainable cities and unique Environmental Portfolio to help Bristol achieve its low carbon goals.”
Siemens, a world leader in sustainable cities technologies, will make use of its experience in smart grids, metering and building technologies from other global projects. Siemens will deploy some of the technologies used in developing the Crystal, a trailblazing building project in London’s Green Enterprise zone, which sets the standard for sustainable buildings and energy management.
The project is due to start in January 2012 and be completed in January 2015.
* Buildings, Renewables and Integrated Storage with Tariffs to Overcome network Limitations
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Notes to editors:
About Siemens in the UK
Siemens was established in the United Kingdom 169 years ago and now employs 12,972 people in the UK. Last year’s revenues were £4.4 billion*. As a leading global engineering and technology services company, Siemens provides innovative solutions to help tackle the world’s major challenges, across the key sectors of energy, industry, infrastructure & cities and healthcare. Siemens has offices and factories throughout the UK, with its headquarters in Frimley, Surrey. The company’s global headquarters is in Munich, Germany. For more information, visit www.siemens.co.uk
* Data includes intercompany revenue. Data may not be comparable with revenue reported in annual or interim reports.
For more information, contact:
Rachel Odams
PR Manager
Siemens plc
Tel. +44 (0)1276 690782
Mob: +44 (0)7808 824209
Rachel.odams@siemens.com
