CONNECTED HOMES, INCLUSIVE PLACES ADVANCED WIRELESS
Using wireless technology to develop a smart energy grid and smart road network, enhancing energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions.
Could confronting the climate crisis help to alleviate the rising cost of living? Digital and technology could improve energy and transport efficiency in our city, reducing costs and mitigating the harmful effects of climate change on housing, health, people, and the environment. By using existing technologies to build creative solutions to climate change, the project aims to improve quality of life for residents in Manchester and protect our city for future generations… and even bring our bills down!
Uniting a range of partners throughout the city – including local and transport authorities, housing trusts, internet service providers and technology solutions - the Connected Homes, Inclusive Places Advanced Wireless project looks to tackle the drivers of climate breakdown at a city region level.
To achieve our ambitions of becoming a zero-carbon city by 2038, the decarbonisation project focuses on two key priorities: the creation of a smart energy grid to increase energy efficiency, and the development of a smart road network to reduce congestion and carbon emissions.
Heat pumps usually help our homes to stay warm in Winter and cool in Summer by transferring heat between the inside of a building and the outside environment. When equipped with wireless capabilities, they have the potential to help to manage energy more efficiently. By using wireless connectivity to allow heat pumps to communicate with one another and share information, we could create a smart energy grid: an advanced electrical system that uses real-time data to respond dynamically to energy demand. Compared to traditional infrastructure, a smart energy grid is faster, cheaper, and more sustainable, enhancing energy efficiency while reducing costs. If implemented on a wider scale, the reduction in Manchester’s carbon footprint could deliver long-terms benefits to our health, our city, and the environment.
“Wireless technology has huge potential to transform our public services and deliver widespread benefits to our overall quality of life.”
We aim to create a smart energy grid model by equipping hundreds of existing heat pumps in social housing with wireless technology. Alongside reducing costs, the heat pumps could be used to support building management, improve mould detection, and increase energy efficiency.
Using the same wireless network, we also aim to pilot a Digital Road Network in Chorlton. This network would use smart signals to gather real-time information on traffic flow, enabling transport providers to make informed decisions to reduce congestion and carbon emissions, fostering a faster and more reliable public transport system.
For people in Manchester, this could mean better access to active travel options, as roads are set to be enhanced to help cyclists manage their journeys better which will improve the experience and safety for bike users.
The project is funded via the Department for Science, innovation, and Technology’s 5G Innovation Region programme. The wider programme aims to explore the feasibility and potential of 5G and other advanced wireless technologies to deliver place-based solutions.
We believe that wireless technology has huge potential to transform our public services and deliver widespread benefits to our overall quality of life. We are committed to confronting the escalating climate crisis to build a more sustainable and prosperous future for Manchester, collaborating with partners from across the city to ensure that the benefits of wireless connectivity are extended to all.
