The energy projects funded under the EURAMET research programmes, EMRP and EMPIR, have brought together research groups from metrology institutes, academia, and industry to work collaboratively. These address some of the measurement challenges associated with a safe, secure, sustainable and affordable energy system while increasing the competitiveness of Europe's industries. The EMRP projects have been completed and highlights are available here. 

Projects have been grouped into three main areas: energy generation and security, distribution and efficiency. 

The European Union imports over half of its energy, with most of our electricity production coming from fossil fuels. As well as the environmental and financial issues that this creates, there is a potential that disruption could impact supply security. Binding EU targets are in place requiring that at least of 32 % of energy consumption to be from renewable sources by 2030 and that at least 14 % of transportation comes from biofuel by this date. However, to support greater diversity in the supply chain requires the development of the energy measurement infrastructure. The following projects covered this topic:

Improved classifications for solar cells to allow real world performance

• Towards an energy-based parameter for photovoltaic classification

Measurements to increase the lifespans of wind energy systems

• Traceable measurement of drive train components for renewable energy systems

Improved characterisation of biofuels and liquified energy gases

• Characterisation of energy gases
• Metrology for biofuels
• Metrology for biogas

Better instrumentation to measure conventional fuels

• Metrology for Liquefied Natural Gas
• Multiphase flow metrology in oil and gas production
• Metrological support for LNG custody transfer and transport fuel applications

The EU has set ambitious targets on the amount of energy to be produced from renewable sources by 2030. However traditional electricity networks often struggle to integrate power from renewable sources which can cause power surges that destabilise the electricity grid.  To address this the energy distribution and transmission systems are being upgraded with the addition of new monitoring and control devices. These new instruments lack both the calibration standards required to validate their performance and the knowledge on how best to place these monitoring devices and secure them from cyberattacks. The following projects covered this topic:

The introduction of standards and traceable measurements for PMUs

• Metrology for smart electrical grids
• Measurement tools for Smart Grid stability and quality

Optimisation of PMU positioning within transmission networks

• Sensor network metrology for the determination of electrical grid characteristics

New, traceable current and sensing technologies for extended network monitoring

• Non-conventional voltage and current sensors for future power grids

New or improved measurement methods for next generation power plants

• Metrology for new generation nuclear power plants

EU member states need to make energy savings each year between 2021 and 2030 to meet energy efficiency targets. To do this will require improvements at all stages of the energy supply chain, from the way the energy is generated, how it is transported over the electricity grid to the amount consumed by electronic devices. However, any improvements in efficiency will require equal improvements in the measurement infrastructure to allow such things as the accurate monitoring of the electricity flow or to validate the performance claims of low-power consumption technologies. The following projects covered this topic:

Important control parameters in power plants to support more efficient operations

• Metrology for improved power plant efficiency

Traceable and validated methods to characterise new technologies

• Metrology for III-V materials based high efficiency multi-junction solar cells
• Traceable characterisation of thin-film materials for energy applications

Measurement challenges supporting a reduction of losses in HVDC transmission

• Metrology for high voltage direct current

The introduction of measurement standards for light-weight fibre reinforced plastic composite

• Validated inspection techniques for composites in energy applications

New measurements and reference standards to support advances in LED technologies

• Metrology for solid state lighting
• Metrology for efficient and safe innovative lighting

New reference materials for energy harvesting technologies

• Metrology for energy harvesting

On going EMPIR projects are addressing global metrological challenges associated with secure, clean and efficient energy.