Powering up the UK net zero supply chain

The £28.5 million investment in new equipment, which will be operational later this year, builds on existing capability and fills gaps in the UK’s current capability. The investment will enable a competitive electrification supply chain to be built across sectors, including industrial, transport and energy.

The new equipment consists of:

- a high power integrated electrical propulsion and powertrain accelerator at the Power Networks Demonstration Centre, University of Strathclyde

- assembly lines for power electronics and electrical machines at the North East Innovation Centre, Sunderland

- a high frequency coil manufacturing and magnetic test facility at the University of Nottingham

- a power electronics reliability and failure analysis facility and an electrical machines winding centre of excellence at the University of Warwick

- a wide band gap power electronics component industrial pilot line at Swansea University

- a production line for recycled sintered magnets at the University of Birmingham

- a prototype facility for ceramic and copper elements and subassemblies for integrated modules at the Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult in Newport.

Led by Newcastle University, this investment will play a vital role in bringing together a UK-wide network of over 30 academic, research and technology organisations. The network gives businesses the opportunity to develop manufacturing process technologies; industrialise the processes needed for power electronics electric machines and drives (PEMD) scale up; and reduce risk by sharing expertise, technical advice and facilities.

Four regional industrialisation centres will coordinate and build on the UK’s national capability to deliver long-term sustainable growth on the road to net zero.

https://www.der-ic.org.uk/