Vision and Mission

ABOUT NeRV

Welcome to NERV…..
generating the data on
domestic decarbonisation

As well as research and development of new technology, NeRV has the ability to support regional energy system planning, provide evidence to support policy, and inform net zero strategy at national level, at a key time for the UK as it approaches 2050.

Wholesale changes to the national strategic planning of energy networks is underway, with the creation of the National Energy System Operator (NESO) and up to 13 Regional Energy Strategic Planners (RESPs). The RESPs will develop whole system strategic plans for each region, and these plans will need to align with both national and local net zero ambitions and energy security priorities.

Our vision

To accelerate a fair and sustainable decarbonisation for all.

Our Mission

Establish an ecosystem delivering information to accelerate decisions by stakeholders to drive decarbonisation for people and places.

Ofgem – Net Zero Britain
Developing an energy system fit for the future

The challenge

To meet this challenge, the UK needs to decarbonise an average of 20,000 properties each week for the next 20 to 25 years to meet its goal.

This includes work to improve the energy and water efficiency of households, exploring retrofit technologies, controls and appliances, as well as the building fabric itself. Net Zero Research Village (NeRV) is the UK’s first research and demonstration test bed that has been designed to inform and shape whole system approaches to decarbonisation, in order to deliver answers on the best low carbon, least cost solutions for customers and communities. NeRV is energy agnostic, cutting across heat, power, water, connectivity and transport.

“Greater strategic planning – across electricity, gas and emerging energy assets such as heat networks, at national and local levels – will help to ensure that major infrastructure assets are built in the right places at the right time. A key planning challenge is to determine the optimal balance between network capacity and greater use of flexibility, specifically, how much expensive new infrastructure is needed to take power generated from key areas of renewable generation to the areas of greatest demand. ”

OFGEM

The solution

To create a collaborative innovation ecosystem that’ delivers data to help accelerate decisions on decarbonisation for people and places.

NeRV is taking a data-centric approach to domestic decarbonisation, providing real-time evidence at scale to myth-bust some of the preconceptions that exist around retrofit technology, heating, insulation, and energy efficiency. By joining up different systems with multiple interdependencies, NeRV is establishing a collaborative innovation ecosystem that’s delivering the data to help accelerate decisions on decarbonisation for people and places

The NeRV facility is run by a specialist team, supported by the EIC, and is situated at Low Thornley site near Gateshead. The EIC have years of experience in project delivery, in the energy sector, and innovative thinking to meet the decarbonisation challenge.