Our independent and technology-agnostic, whole systems approach delivers market leading models, tools and labs to drive the UK to Net Zero
Navigating the nation to Net Zero
Achieving Net Zero carbon emissions will require efforts from both the bottom up and the top down.
Energy Systems Catapult’s whole systems approach is helping define and deliver the future energy system alongside government, regulators, academia, industry and innovators.
Whole system modelling considers the complex interactions of power, gas, heat, and transport and the different ways in which our energy might be supplied, managed and consumed in the future at a national, regional, local and individual building level.
By looking at the whole system, a collaborative environment of policy, regulation and investment can be encouraged where innovations progress more quickly from prototype to marketplace, creating low carbon economic growth.
Using the power of our four national whole system energy models to identify market opportunities, policy/regulatory choices and innovation priorities.
What we offer
Energy Systems Catapult Using the power of our four national whole system energy models to identify market opportunities, policy/regulatory choices and innovation priorities.
Energy System Modelling Environment
ESME supports Government Net Zero policy-making and energy sector strategy and investment decision-making.
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Storage and Flexibility Model
SFM complements ESME, assessing the value of storage technologies and identifies system service requirements of future energy systems.
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Infrastructure Transitions Analysis Model
ITAM compliments ESME, applying national modelling outputs at a more regional, granular level to understand infrastructure needs for Net Zero.
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Consumers, Vehicles and Energy Integration model
CVEI models electric car and van uptake, transport infrastructure needs and insight on consumers, batteries, charging and policy including taxation.
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Road Freight Model
RFM is complementary to ESME, assessing low carbon road freight options with wide-ranging powertrain data and operating profiles (e.g. long-haul vs. local) to assess fleet implications & infrastructure needs.
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How to work with us
Energy Systems Catapult offers technical, commercial and policy expertise to drive Net Zero innovation across the whole energy system.
We are not-for-profit, independent and technology-agnostic – building a trusted track record of delivering thought leadership, collaborative R&D and commercial commissions – so are uniquely placed to take on the challenges that others cannot tackle.
We use our grant-funding to develop capabilities, tools and labs – from world-class Net Zero modelling and cutting-edge systems engineering, through to digital and data science and real-world innovation trials that drive start-ups to success.
Supporting, convening and advising government, academia, industry, local/regional authorities, investors and SMEs to create new markets that unleash innovation and define the pathway to Net Zero.
Collaborate with us
We work with partners from the public and private sectors to secure funding and collectively deliver the thought leadership and innovation projects that tackle the hardest challenges in the way to Net Zero.
Commission us
We offer technical, commercial and policy expertise through our independent evidence and insights to identify and deliver Net Zero innovation priorities. Then actively support clients to develop actionable plans for implementation.
Case Studies
Energy Systems Modelling Environment & Storage and Flexibility Model
Good Energy commissioned Energy Systems Catapult to carry out whole system scenario modelling – with the specific constraints of allowing no nuclear power or fossil fuel energy supply – to determine if Net Zero by 2050 was still possible.
We utilised our Energy System Modelling Environment – which is a peer reviewed, least cost optimisation model. Plus our new Storage and Flexibility Model (SFM) – which provides a greater level of detail into how the energy system might function under Good Energy’s chosen scenarios.
The SFM platform produces highly granular dispatch information and explores the different roles and responsibilities of energy technologies and services in 2050, on an hour-by-hour basis.
Good Energy used the modelling results to compile a report supporting their efforts to increase renewable energy generation and storage in the coming decades.
Energy Systems Modelling Environment & Storage and Flexibility Model
Energy Systems Catapult was commissioned by the Offshore Wind Industry Council to (a) consider the impact of very high levels of offshore wind on the energy system, and how these impacts could be mitigated; and, (b) identify opportunities to strengthen offshore wind’s role in delivering innovative solutions to system integration.
We utilised our internationally peer-reviewed, least cost optimisation model Energy Systems Modelling Environment and our new Storage and Flexibility Model, the report “Solving the offshore wind integration challenge”, to analyse a large number of possible future energy system configurations.
The analysis found:
- At least 50-70GW of offshore wind was deployed in almost all scenarios to 2050, underlining its important future role in the UK energy system.
- Credible systems are possible at significantly higher levels, with up to 150GW systems modelled.
- Hydrogen plays an important role in decarbonising certain sectors, particularly industry and some transport and heating.
- Future systems with a diverse generation mix, including clean thermal and nuclear power, have advantages over a system dominated by a single technology.
- Reform of electricity markets is essential to unlock the potential of offshore wind, and ensure a more flexible demand side is established to match higher penetrations of wind.
Road Freight Model
UK Energy Research Centre commissioned Energy Systems Catapult and the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK to explore different pathways for reducing freight emissions from Heavy Goods Vehicles.
With little industry momentum and a severe lack of workable low emission prototype vehicles, the challenge was to develop an accurate and usable modelling tool to provide evidence that encouraged the UK transport sector to embrace cleaner alternatives.
Rather than focus on vehicle weights (like most existing models), we focused on the specific use cases (e.g. long-haul vs. local depot deliveries) to identify the technical specifications needed to achieve zero emissions and the infrastructure that will need to be in place to support the vehicle uptake.
The tool was used to engage the Department for Transport on:
- Including operators’ decision parameters and behaviours into modelling to better inform policy interventions and align operators’ choices with the required deployment of technologies and infrastructure.
- Assessing how policy decisions can support freight operators and infrastructure roll-out to facilitate carbon-free powertrains.
Following project completion, we’ve used the tool to engage with the UK Department of Transport and wider industry to explore how they could benefit from enhanced freight modelling to inform policy making.
Commission us
Energy Systems Catapult offers independent, technology-agnostic and whole systems models, tools and labs to help deliver of Net Zero across the UK
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