ScottishPower invests in Strathclyde University

The investment from the energy company will be directed towards a new academic position called the ‘ScottishPower Chair in Smart Grid Technology’. Additionally the university has agreed to fund an associated lecturer position based in the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering.

Jim Sutherland, network development director at ScottishPower, said: ‘ScottishPower already has smart grid projects in progress, but we understand the importance of working with the academic world in order to develop new technology and keep improving and expanding the benefits that smart grids will bring to customers.

‘We also hope that our partnership with Strathclyde will help to spark further interest in this area of engineering and produce graduates of the future who will be able to bring their skills into the industry.’

Prof Jim McDonald, principal of the university, said: ’This investment reflects Scotland’s opportunity to be at the forefront of smart grid technology and engineering, and I am delighted that Strathclyde is working closely with ScottishPower in this area. We have established world-leading, electrical power system research capacity and we see the new Professorial investment as a basis for strengthening our international impact and industrial partnerships.

‘The University has a long and successful history of working with industry and producing research to help tackle the challenges of the 21st Century. The new academic staff will help further this work and support the development of highly skilled graduates needed urgently by the energy sector.’

ScottishPower is currently involved in the development of a smart grid project in Glasgow as part of the Clyde Gateway project, a regeneration scheme in the east end of Glasgow. The company is also working on other projects including a pilot scheme in the Toxteth area of Liverpool and one in Ashton Hayes, Cheshire.