A new energy centre worth £20 million is to be opened in Newcastle.

The EPSRC National Centre for Energy Systems Integration will allow experts to test the entire energy system in real time.

They will try to unravel the energy network and understand future supply and demand.

Researchers will also explore ways to optimise the energy network, drive down customer bills and inform future government policy.

The hub has been funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Siemens and Newcastle University.

Phil Taylor, Siemens Professor of Energy Systems and Director of the Institute for Sustainability at Newcastle University said: “Electricity generation is undergoing fundamental change. Many existing fossil fuel power stations will be decommissioned in the coming 15 years and new sources of generation are coming on stream.

“This new National Centre will provide us with robust information about energy usage in the real world, enabling us to develop methods to deal with the inherent risk and uncertainty so we can confidently inform government policy.”