NPL, the UK’s National Measurement Institute, will re-launch this month to help the UK get more value from renewables and low-carbon technology and increase our understanding of emissions and pollution. This new approach will see NPL apply the latest advances in measurement to make every stage of energy generation and transport more efficient, safe and affordable, and to improve the quality of data available on climate change and air pollution.
The Paris Accord means that worldwide there will be a greater emphasis on monitoring and mitigating the effects of climate change. Also, with a ban on the sale of diesel and petrol cars by 2040 announced this year, the UK’s energy infrastructure will need to undergo a substantial shift in order to meet demand, and support economic growth.
NPL has more than a century of expertise in providing underpinning measurement standards, and skills and technologies based on those standards, to industry. NPL quality assures measurements of air pollution, operates a world-leading capability for detecting greenhouse gas emissions, and is the site of London’s first new public access hydrogen refuelling station. Good measurement is crucial to assessing the performance of technologies and processes, to ensure those with the most potential can quickly get to market and be integrated effectively into the grid to provide energy security in the long-term.
NPL is re-launching in direct response to government policy, including the Industrial Strategy, as well as extensive consultancy with the energy industry. NPL is now unveiling a number of new programmes to pave the way to a greener future for the UK:
· Testing low-cost air quality sensors to increase their utility. More data is needed to help us monitor, and take effective action to reduce air pollution. Advanced, government-run stations provide highly accurate data, but new low-cost sensors offer more localised readings, with consumers increasingly using them to track their own exposure. These sensors offer a means of adding to the existing network of data points and assessing what difference policies are having on the environment. However, the quality of the data they provide is often low. NPL has established a test facility to assess the accuracy of these low-cost sensors, and identify how they can be best used in collaboration with more accurate sensors, to increase our understanding of air pollution.
· Paving the way to a hydrogen economy. With a 2040 ban on all new diesel and petrol cars announced this year, hydrogen is one option for a future transport fuel, and it could also be burnt in boilers to heat homes. NPL is working with industry to understand the barriers to hydrogen uptake as a future energy carrier. Challenges include understanding the combustion properties of hydrogen, being able to detect impurities and being able to store hydrogen, and NPL is committed to working to resolve these issues. NPL works extensively on fuel cells, electrolysers and hydrogen purity, helping to improve the viability and performance of such technologies to fuel further commercialisation.
· Consulting with industry on future battery development. As intermittent renewables come online, the UK’s grid will need to be more responsive to shifts in energy supply. Growth in electrical storage is expected to improve capacity and integration. However, people question whether Lithium-ion batteries can meet future battery needs, particularly for electric vehicles, due to limited range. NPL is conducting research into battery technologies, to increase their lifetime, and develop new techniques for testing the claims and viability of new batteries.
· New technologies to make nuclear decommissioning safer and quicker. NPL is working to make the UK’s nuclear energy industry safer, through cost-effective decommissioning and support for automation of hazardous activity. For example NPL is assessing the use of graphene for water decontamination and radiation detectors; developing imaging technology to enable robots to conduct hazardous activities and reduce risk for workers; and providing the reference materials and support needed to ensure that measurements of the radioactivity content of waste materials are accurate, consistent and independent, helping industry to reduce the time and money of decommissioning.
· Providing more confidence in satellite-derived climate data. Space based sensors offer a unique opportunity to capture global data on climate change over time. However, as we generate more and more data, we also need to ensure that the data collected is trusted and reliable. The European Commission’s Copernicus project seeks to provide an open and comprehensive picture of the climate, through its Copernicus Climate Change Service – or C3S. NPL is working with the University of Reading and Telespazio to ensure that the data products that C3S produces are fit for purpose– giving end users confidence to make decisions to address climate change with it.
Jane Burston, Head of Energy & Environment at NPL said: “Without trustworthy data we can never be confident that the measures we take to minimise climate change are having the desired impact. We need to know that the information we gather on emissions or air quality for example is accurate and that people can use the data to make decisions. We also need to validate the performance of innovative new environmental technologies, to ensure that these new businesses can prove their claims to investors and customers. As the UK’s National Measurement Institute, NPL is uniquely equipped to provide this validation and confidence.
Dr Peter Thompson, CEO of NPL, said: “Many people are unaware of the scope, scale or quality of work that NPL delivers, or the part that it has played in some of the biggest discoveries in modern history. The effects of the science, technology and engineering that NPL delivers are felt by everyone, everywhere. After a century as the silent partner to industry, we are proud to re-launch NPL, to ensure it can further accelerate UK industry and deliver extraordinary impact on our economy and quality of life for many years to come.”
Alongside Energy & Environment, NPL is also focusing its activity in three other areas: Advanced Manufacturing, Digital, and Life Sciences & Health.
About NPL
NPL is the UK’s National Measurement Institute, providing the measurement capability that underpins the UK’s prosperity and quality of life.
