The organization wants to improve the self-sufficiency of Britain’s power electronics, machines and drives (PEMD) supply chains by improving the UK’s manufacturing base for these components. Much of the funding will go to SMEs, according to UKRI.
Currently, technologies such as electric cars and wind turbines, are the product of a carbon-intensive, pan-global supply chain, and the carbon cost of these products can be very high, even when they are zero emission at the point of use. This process means a significant portion of the reduced emission are in fact effectively ‘off-shored’ in other countries, where the components and finished product are manufactured.
One project, led by engineering company Ricardo UK Ltd, will help develop sustainable electric motors requiring 12kg less rare earth metals per motor than current models, making them more sustainable. Other projects cover plans to develop UK supply chains for manufacturing a range of PEMD components and products.
“By building a sovereign supply chain, we can help make sure zero emission technologies are truly zero emission, while both mitigating against overseas supply chain disruption and cementing the UK’s place at the forefront of a burgeoning industry,” said project director Professor Will Drury.
UKRI is also reportedly funding £33 million to create a network of regional industrialisation centers and £6 million for training.
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