Fast growth electrical and power engineering firm Enspec has become a Knowledge Transfer Partner of Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU).
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Image Credit: Enspec
The groundbreaking partnership, fuelled by Innovate UK, will focus on power quality and hydrogen as a future fuel source.
MohamadAli Amini, PhD, Power Systems Analyst - Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) Associate MMU, will lead the project from Enspec’s Manchester office on a full-time basis over the next two-and-a-half-years.
He said: “I’m excited to have joined the Enspec team and delighted to be working on what is an important cutting-edge project.
“With hydrogen set to be one of the world’s future forms of energy there couldn’t be a better time to kickstart a high level KTP.
“A hydrogen plant can be a fuel cell that generates electricity and consumes hydrogen as a source. Or it can be an electrolyser that consumes electricity and produces hydrogen.
“We are exploring what this means to the grid at the point of connection and expect to share our solutions to the industry in due course.”
Forecasting £6 million revenues this year and £10m for 2025, Enspec’s clients include large energy generators such as major wind farms, solar farms and hydro plants and major energy consumers including manufacturers and hospitals.
Services provided by the company, which boasts a team of 30 people across offices in St Helens, Manchester and Washington, include power system studies, power quality analysis, renewable energy consultancy and site maintenance.
Enspec also designs, manufactures and commissions bespoke products, including Harmonic Filters, Reactive Compensation, Power Factor Correction and Point-on-Wave Switching.
Commenting on the KTP, Enspec CEO Mara Rastall said MohamadAli will act as the key link between MMU's Hydrogen Electrolysis research and Enspec’s power quality expertise.
She said: “This is Enspec’s first KTP and it could have incredibly wide-reaching consequences for the future of hydrogen as a fuel source and help us forecast potential issues and identify solutions.
“Our roadmap includes delving deep into market dynamics, growth forecasts and anticipating emerging power quality challenges.
“MohamadAli will lead testing with MMU's electrolyser, seamlessly transitioning into simulation exercises alongside our Power Systems team to predict hydrogen power quality issues.
“There will be collaboration with industry leaders, community engagement, knowledge sharing and proposed solutions, all geared towards shaping the best possible future for sustainable energy.
“It’s an exciting time and we are really looking forward to seeing how this partnership develops.”