APPENDIX 56
Further supplementary memorandum submitted
by Research Councils UK
ENERGY RESEARCH
CENTRE
1. All of the Research Councils involved
in the cross Council "Towards a Sustainable Energy Economy"
Programme (primarily EPSRC, ESRC and NERC) are of the view that
the research challenges and opportunities required to underpin
UK policy development demand whole systems integrated approaches.
Creation of a UK Energy Research Centre, that draws on a National
Energy Research Network, is a critical part of that programme
and 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.
2. A total of £20 million has been
allocated to the Research Councils for this programme. In addition,
£8 million has been allocated to EPSRC in response to the
PIU study that will be used to complement the investments in the
cross-Council programme.
3. NERC is taking the lead in implementing
the new programme and is chairing the Programme Management Group
of Research Councils that received funds (EPSRC, ESRC and NERC)
plus BBSRC and CLRC. Research Councils are also giving consideration
as to how best to engage and involve other major players eg Carbon
Trust and DTI. A Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) is being
established to provide advice on emphasis of the research agenda
for this first phase of the programme (the SR2002 settlement did
not provide funding to fulfil all of the research areas identified
in the original submission). The SAC will also draw on advice
from the inter-agency High Level Energy R&D Group and any
additional research themes identified in the forthcoming Energy
White Paper.
4. In response to the specific questions
raised in your 22 November 2002:
— "How much new money is being
made available?" This is still to be confirmed by the Programme
Management Group assessments are that between £8 million
and £12 million will be required to establish the Energy
Research Centre.
— "How will the money be directed?"
Arrangements are still under discussion but the Research Councils
are in the process of establishing a Scientific Advisory Committee
that will advise on the priorities for the Centre both within
the scope of the Spending Review bid and other ongoing energy
research supported by the Research Councils and other agencies.
— "What sort of budgetary controls
will be in place?" The detailed management arrangements for
the Energy Research Centre have not been discussed at this stage,
but is likely to involve an independent-dominated management board
that will approve the Centre's research programme and networking
activities. In addition, ongoing financial/management oversight
will be maintained by the supporting Councils.
— "To what extent is this new
money on top of existing expenditure and/or includes previous/existing
funding streams?" Funding for the Energy Research Centre
is all new money from SR2002. Research Councils can provide supporting
evidence that pre-existing commitments, eg EPSRC £5 million
per annum for SUPERGEN and £14 million (50% from the Carbon
Trust) for Carbon Vision are unaffected and will be committed
to research consortia that are linked to the Centre through the
National Energy Research Network.
5. Research Councils are finalising the
detail for the establishment of a website for the Programme that
will be the source of information on developments and funding
opportunities. The Programme Management Group is also currently
discussing the first draft of an expressions of interest announcement
for establishing and running the Energy Research Centre.
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