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National Grid - QinetiQ’s technological expertise helps National Grid achieve its environmental targets
National Grid is committed to safeguarding the global environment for future generations and aims to reduce its carbon emissions by 80 per cent, well ahead of the UK government’s target for year 2050.
Although the company works with universities and external bodies such as the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), National Grid conducts little of its research and development (R&D) internally. To accelerate environmental action in line with its ambitious ‘green’ aims, it needed to bring in additional external specialist expertise and it chose QinetiQ, a leading international defence and security technology business.
Although the company works with universities and external bodies such as the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), National Grid conducts little of its research and development (R&D) internally. To accelerate environmental action in line with its ambitious ‘green’ aims, it needed to bring in additional external specialist expertise and it chose QinetiQ, a leading international defence and security technology business.
“Our work with QinetiQ represents a considerable step forward in reducing the environmental impact of our business. Wide ranging research facilities and knowledge of the kind offered by QinetiQ are becoming scarce in today’s world. As we all look towards climate change, access to those facilities and use of that knowledge is of growing importance.”
Ian Welch, R&D Manager, National Grid
Ian Welch, R&D Manager, National Grid
Challenge
- To protect the environment, leading energy company National Grid aims to reduce its carbon emissions by 80 per cent by 2050.
Solution
- Certain that defence research could benefit the energy business, National Grid engaged QinetiQ to produce a carbon footprint technology roadmap.
- QinetiQ first established National Grid’s main drivers and challenges through a series of interviews, and then expert teams within QinetiQ were consulted to find solutions.
Results
- 91 environment-related suggestions were condensed into seven firm proposals for future action.
- These include acoustic noise control, the use of special coatings for temperature control of installations and the development of sensors to detect leaks of the greenhouse gas sulphur hexafluoride.
- A further suggestion is to replace National Grid’s survey helicopters with Unmanned Air Vehicles.
- QinetiQ and National Grid are progressing most of these projects. Some will take six months, others could take up to two years.
- This puts National Grid on track to meet its aims of reducing the environmental impact of its business.
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