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The programme, called Measurement for Recovery (M4R), has been led by the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) alongside partner national measurement laboratories: LGC, TUV-NEL, the National Gear Metrology Laboratory and the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control.
Aiming to boost competitiveness, the M4R programme offered access to world-leading specialist science and engineering advice, support and analytical expertise to help solve analysis or measurement issues that cannot be resolved using standard technologies and techniques.
The programme has supported projects in supply-chain management, social-distancing requirements and the restart of production lines or instrumentation to compliance, new product development and verification and supply-chain evaluation.
One of the companies that took advantage of the M4R programme is London-based RFC Power, which aims to help enable the transition to 100% renewable energy by developing “the world’s lowest-cost flow battery”. Its hybrid regenerative fuel cell uses a unique chemistry that gives its system a high efficiency and long lifetime at low cost. As the RFC flow battery uses an innovative approach, it also required a new method to measure the amount of charge stored.
Unrivalled expertise
The electrochemistry group at NPL is a global leader in making measurements on hydrogen technologies and has years of experience developing techniques that combine electrochemical and spectroscopy measurements. Through the M4R programme, RFC Power was able to access this expertise and the specialised facilities at NPL which supported the development of methods for characterising RFC’s battery system. It is said that this improved understanding of the technology will accelerate the development and enable the team to secure further investment to bring a reliable product to market.
The goal of M4R is to ensure that the measurement expertise of NPL and the partner laboratories continues to help drive the UK’s innovation landscape and is utilised to its utmost to support industry in its recovery from Covid-19 and beyond.
Penny Owen, commercial director at the NPL, said: “The M4R programme was launched in response to the economic impacts of Covid-19 and ensuring UK industry had access to the measurement science and engineering capability they needed to help them in recovery. We have helped companies by supporting them with new and improved products, services and processes and this is expected to enable economic recovery through increased sales, reduced costs and by creating confidence to secure investment.”
Reaping the benefits
So far, 82% of the companies that have made use of the M4R programme say their commercial opportunity has greatly or moderately increased and that their technology readiness level has improved.
All the 400-plus M4R projects will be completed by 31 March, but Owen said that the support won’t stop there.
She added: “All those on the M4R programme have the ability to access our scientists and engineers for any follow-up work on projects via either government or private funding as appropriate.”
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