LondonKraften

LondonKraften is a London-based collaborative initiative focused on urban energy systems, resilience, and sustainable technology. It operates as a network of researchers, engineers, policymakers, and community groups, aiming to accelerate deployment of distributed energy resources, energy storage, and smart infrastructure in the city. The project emphasizes open data, modular design, and inclusive governance.

History and scope: LondonKraften began in 2020 as a multi-institution collaboration among technology laboratories, civic organizations, and municipal agencies in London. It functions as an independent nonprofit with regional chapters that coordinate pilots across boroughs, seeking to align technical innovation with local needs and policy frameworks.

Activities: The initiative conducts feasibility studies, pilots microgrids and energy storage with municipal facilities, develops open data platforms for energy management, and publishes policy briefs and technical standards. It also runs community engagement programs to ensure that technology deployment reflects the priorities of residents and local businesses.

Projects: Notable activities include a district-scale microgrid demonstration enabling critical services during outages, an urban solar-plus-storage trial, and a demand-response program linking public institutions with flexible energy use. LondonKraften also contributes to building codes and planning guidance for energy resilience and is involved in knowledge-sharing events and technical workshops.

Governance and funding: The initiative is led by a steering council with representatives from academia, industry, and local government, supported by a technical committee and an independent reviewer. Funding comes from research grants, public subsidies, and partner contributions.

Impact: LondonKraften aims to inform policy, accelerate deployment of resilient energy systems, and provide a testbed for new technologies. It publishes reports and openly shares data and methodologies to support replication in other cities.