APPENDIX 20
Memorandum from the Research Councils
(RCUK)
INTRODUCTION
1. Research Councils UK is a strategic partnership
set up to champion the research, engineering and technology supported
by the seven UK Research Councils. Through RCUK the Research Councils
are working together with the Arts and Humanities Research Board
(AHRB) to create a common framework for research, training and
knowledge transfer. RCUK was launched on 1 May 2002 and further
details are available at www.rcuk.ac.uk.
2. The RCUK strategy group leads this new
partnership and is chaired by the Director General of the Research
Councils. The members are the Research Councils' Chief Executives
and the AHRB Chief Executive attends meetings as an observer.
3. This memorandum provides a briefing to
the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee on the cross-Research
Council Towards a Sustainable Energy Economy Programme (TSEC)
and UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC). The response is submitted
by Research Councils UK on behalf of the Engineering and Physical
Sciences Council (EPSRC), the Economic and Social Research Council
(ESRC) and the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). The
evidence submitted does not incorporate, or necessarily reflect,
the views of OST.
TOWARDS A
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY
ECONOMY PROGRAMME
(TSEC)
4. In the Government's 2000 Spending Review
NERC was given the responsibility of furthering cross-Research
Council collaboration in the area of technology for sustainability
and energy. As a result NERC took the lead in developing a joint
Research Council proposal, "Towards a Sustainable Energy
Economy" (TSEC) which received funding in the 2002 Spending
Review.
5. The Research Councils involved (primarily
EPSRC, ESRC and NERC) are of the view that the research challenges
and opportunities required to underpin UK energy policy development
demand whole systems integrated approaches. This interdisciplinary
research Programme is aimed at enabling the UK to access a secure,
safe, diverse and reliable energy supply at competitive prices,
while meeting the challenge of global warming.
6. The Programme will build on other initiatives
such as the EPSRC led "Sustainable Power Generation and Supply
Programme (SUPERGEN), which funds major research consortia to
improve the sustainability of the power supply industry; and the
Carbon Vision Programme, in partnership with the Carbon Trust,
which will support research and development to underpin tomorrow's
low carbon technologies. Both programmes involve EPSRC, ESRC and
NERC.
7. A total of £20 million has been
allocated to three Research Councils for the TSEC Programme as
a result of the 2002 Spending Review (NERC: £8 million; EPSRC:
£7 million; ESRC: £5 million). In addition, £8
million has been allocated to EPSRC from the Performance and Innovation
Unit (PIU) Renewables Fund. The TSEC Programme will more than
double Research Council investment in sustainable energy research
by 2005-06.
8. NERC will lead in the implementation
of the Programme and is chairing the Programme Management Group
(PMG) of Research Councils that received funds in addition to
the Biotechnology and Biological Research Council (BBSRC) and
Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils (CCLRC).
The PMG has established a website for the Programme: http://www.nerc.ac.uk/funding/programmes/sustenergy/.
9. The TSEC Programme research objectives
resonate strongly with the outcomes of the Chief Scientific Adviser's
Energy Research Review Group[46]the
recently produced report from Imperial College[47]the
Energy White Paper[48]and
the European Commission's Sustainable Energy Systems work programme[49]Research
Councils have noted the recommendations made in the recent Report
from the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee on
"Towards a Non-Carbon Fuel Economy"; individual Research
Councils will be responding to the Report via the Department of
Trade and Industry Energy Directorate.
THE UK ENERGY
RESEARCH CENTRE
(UKERC)
10. A substantial, vital and high-profile
priority of the TSEC Programme will be the formation of a UK Energy
Research Centre, which will serve to provide much needed coordination
and cohesion of the many current and proposed UK research activities.
It will also greatly assist in initiating and promoting the interdisciplinary
collaborations required.
11. Research Councils will establish the
Centre by 1 April 2004, utilising £8-12 million over five
years. The remainder of the TSEC Programme funds will be used
to address other research priorities that will operate independently
but complement the activities of the Centre.
12. The UKERC will provide leadership in
energy research and assist in giving coherence and co-ordination
to the UK energy research agenda. While recognising that UKERC
cannot cover all aspects of energy research, priority will be
given to research programmes focused on the development of integrative
whole-systems approaches to energy research.
13. UKERC will be expected to:
— attract an internationally renowned
scientist to be Research Director of the Centre;
— implement an effective management
strategy led by an Executive Director;
— develop an innovative research agenda
promoting interdisciplinary, integrated whole systems approaches
to UK energy research that takes account of existing national
and international research and, where appropriate, involve key
stakeholders eg energy utilities;
— develop a UK and international leadership
role and provide a UK focal point for international collaboration;
— add value by providing greater coherence,
co-ordination and connectivity for current and proposed UK energy
research by establishing and co-ordinating a National Energy Research
Network;
— provide a focal point for data and
information on UK energy research funding to provide a capability
for effective knowledge transfer of research outcomes to both
business and policy makers eg to a Sustainable Energy Policy Unit;
— provide independent advice on energy
issues relevant to policy and be seen by government as the recognised
co-ordinator of energy R&D and act as a focus for user and
public engagement and communication activities (eg through media
liaison, website development etc);
— bring together key stakeholders (government,
industry, Carbon Trust, non-governmental organisations, etc) and
leading research workers to promote collaborations and maximise
returns on investments; and
— support the development of interdisciplinary
research capacity (eg postgraduate training).
14. In addition to the funds provided by
the Research Councils, the host institution(s) will be expected
to provide significant resources to establish and support the
Centre, eg by providing its built and administrative infrastructure,
in addition to work to attract co-funding either in cash or in
kind. It is anticipated that the Centre will need to apportion
its resources approximately equally between research and co-ordination
activities.
May 2003
46 Chief Scientific Adviser's Energy Research Group-Report
of the Group-Recommendations to Inform the Performance and Innovation
Unit's Energy Policy Review: February 2002. (URN 02/588; available
from DTI). http://www.ost.gov.uk/policy/issues/csa-errg/ Back
47
Assessment of technology options to address climate change, a
report for the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit, 2003. http://www.iccept.ic.ac.uk/pdfs/Tech%20initiative%20ICCEPT%20FINAL.pdf Back
48
Energy White Paper "Our energy future-creating a low carbon
economy" February 2003 http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/whitepaper/index.shtml£wp Back
49
http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/energy/index-en.html Back
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