Faraday Challenge, CAV3, V2G competitions offer over £125 m in funding

KTN hosts briefing events for ISCF and other competitions to accelerate vehicle electrification.

Competitions to make UK a world leader in energy storage and electric cars

24 July 2017

Business Secretary Greg Clark today announced the release of the first tranche of the £246 million Faraday Challenge for clean and flexible energy. Alongside new funding for vehicle-to-grid (V2G) innovation and connected and autonomous vehicle (CAV) technology, this represents a significant opportunity for the UK automotive and energy sectors.

The Faraday Challenge Рwhich is designed to take battery ideas, inspired by commercial application, all the way from fundamental research through development, innovation and industrial scale up Рis part of the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF).

In April 2017, Mr Clark announced the commitment of over £1bn over 4 years in Research and Development via the ISCF. UK businesses and research organisations can now apply for a share of the first £45 million of Faraday Challenge funds.

The Faraday Challenge “is a huge opportunity for the energy sector and automotive sector¬†alike,”¬†Mr Clark said in a speech in Birmingham today; adding that the programme¬†will “make Britain the go-to place in the world for energy storage.”

The Faraday Challenge’s competitions are divided into 3 streams:

Research

To support world-class research and training in battery materials, technologies and manufacturing processes, the government has opened a £45m competition, led by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), to bring the best minds and facilities together to create a virtual Battery Institute.

Innovation

The most promising research completed by the Institute will be moved closer to the market through collaborative research and development competitions, led by Innovate UK.

Scale-up

To further develop the real-world use and application of battery technology the government has opened a competition, led by the Advanced Propulsion Centre, to identify the best proposition for a new state-of-the-art open access National Battery Manufacturing Development facility.

KTN will host a briefing event on 3 August in Birmingham; covering scope for the Faraday Challenge fund and for an Innovate UK Feasibility Study and Research & Development batteries competition. This event will be webcast.

This event will benefit entrepreneurs, innovators and researchers who can expand their work in the areas of battery chemistry, raw materials, materials processing, cell components, cell, module and pack assembly and vehicle integration, cell production methods, and any aspect of the future electric vehicle battery supply chain.

Regional brokerage events will also be held in London on 10th August and Newcastle on 11th August.

Simultaneously, substantial funding opportunities are available for the development of connected and autonomous vehicles and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technologies.

Businesses can apply for a share of up to £20 million for innovative projects that support electric vehicles to work smartly with the grid. Register now for competition briefings in London on 9th August and Birmingham on 17th August.

Up to £25 million has also been allocated in the third round of funding for connected and autonomous vehicles; with competition briefings scheduled for London, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as a webcast.

For more information about the Faraday and V2G competitions, please contact Mark Matchett. For queries about connected and autonomous vehicles, please contact Rob Furlong.