Funder
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
Timeframe
January 2023 – December 2024
Overview
TARGET is an innovative £1.15M research project which will investigate the potential of Tidal Range Schemes (TRSs) as renewable generation technologies that can also be operated as grid-scale energy storage facilities.
Led by the University of Cardiff, in collaboration with a world-leading team of researchers from the Universities of Strathclyde and Manchester, the multi-disciplinary project will explore the potential contribution of TRS in achieving a net-zero electricity system by 2035 and a net-negative electricity system by 2050
The five-year collaboration, which involves , including Dept. for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, North Wales Tidal Energy, GE (General Electric Company), Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, British Hydropower Association, Tidal Engineering & Enviro Services Ltd and Tidetec.
Through economic modelling and wider analysis of political economy outcomes and narrative development, CEP researchers will bring crucial understanding of the long-term economic feasibility of TRS, and the value of energy flexibility from an economy-wide point of view.
By looking at the broader socio-economic picture, CEP research can help bring understanding of how investments in TRS and other grid scale storage options could support renewable generation and drive economic impacts for GDP, jobs and earnings, and in turn the long-term prosperity, as well as sustainability of the UK. In addition to this, our techno-economic cost benefit analysis will provide understanding to the economic feasibility and the potential market interventions required for flexibility provision.
This understanding will be critical to building consensus across government, industry and citizens on the value and importance of flexibility on a low carbon energy system and the contribution that TRS can make economically, politically and socially. This consensus will be crucial to ultimately delivering feasible and robust pathways to net zero targets.
Partners
Lead partner – Cardiff University, Other partners – University of Strathclyde and University of Manchester.