Memorandum submitted by the Research Councils
UK (RCUK)
1. Research Councils UK is a strategic partnership
set up to champion the research supported by the seven UK Research
Councils. RCUK was established in 2002 to enable the Councils
to work together more effectively to enhance the overall impact
and effectiveness of their research, training and innovation activities,
contributing to the delivery of the Government's objectives for
science and innovation. Further details are available at www.rcuk.ac.uk
2. This evidence is submitted by RCUK on
behalf of Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council,
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, and Economic
and Social Research Council, and represents their independent
views. It does not include or necessarily reflect the views of
the Science and Innovation Group in the newly formed Department
for Innovation, Universities and Skills. The submission is made
on behalf of the following Councils:
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| Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
| ANNEX 1 |
| Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
| ANNEX 2 |
| Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
| ANNEX 3 |
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3. All these Research Councils have contributed to the
main text of this response; and have provided additional specific
information about their research in separate Annexes, as detailed
above.
GENERAL COMMENTS
4. Biofuels are broadly defined as energy sources from
biomass. Included in this definition are; solid biomass eg wood,
grasses, sugar etc; liquid biomass eg, palm oil, sunflower oils
and their derivatives eg ethanol, etc; and gaseous biomass derivatives
eg methane derived from anaerobic respiration of micro-organisms.
5. We note that the Inquiry is focused on liquid biofuels.
In this memorandum we include reference to both liquid biofuel
research and other biofuels for completeness. This is because
the large research initiatives in this area focus on all aspects
of bioenergy rather than specifically of liquid biofuels.
6. RCUK can not comment on all questions in the consultation.
However, the Research Councils have responded with information
relevant to the questions raised by the committee in sections
1, 4, and 5—as indicated in the separate responses.
7. The individual Research Council responses largely
set out support for research activities in these areas. Many of
the issues addressed within the responses cut across the borders
between Research Councils, and therefore these activities should
be considered in concert.
8. RCUK has supported a major cross-Council Research
programme on Rural Economy and Land Use (RELU)[11]
to investigate the social, economic, environmental and technological
challenges faced by rural areas. Councils have also coordinated
support for the bioenergy SUPERGEN[12]
consortium and the Towards a Sustainable Energy Economy[13]
(TSEC) Biosys and Bioenergy initiative, which aims to take a whole-systems
approach to issues such as the role of biofuels in energy security,
and a range of economic issues arising from biofuels.
Research Councils UK
1 October 2007
11
http://www.relu.ac.uk/ Back
12
http://www.supergen-bioenergy.net/ Back
13
http://www.tsec-biosys.ac.uk/index.php?p=1 Back
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