Cardiff University Energy Research and UKERC

Cardiff University Energy Seminar

8 February 2006

Prof Jim Skea, UKERC Research Director

UKERC – KEY FEATURES

Established in late 2004 following a recommendation from the Chief Scientific Adviser: diagnosis – UK energy research had declined and become

fragmented solution – a new Centre with its own “whole system” research

programme and the task of networking other UK activities.

an interdisciplinary Centre established by three research councils – Engineering and Physical Sciences; Natural Environment; Economic and Social

a “distributed” centre involving a collaboration between eight universities/research institutes

headquarters at Imperial College

UKERC RESEARCH AND NETWORKING

Thematically organised Vertical themes

demand reduction (Oxford) future sources of energy (Edinburgh) infrastructure and supply (Manchester)

Cross-cutting themes systems and modelling (PSI) environmental sustainability (CEH, Lancaster) Materials (Imperial College)

CENTRE FUNCTIONS

Research Atlas (landscape, roadmaps)

Technology and Policy Assessment

The Meeting Place – research hotel function

International engagement

Training (summer school, interdisciplinary studentships)

UKERC GOVERNANCE

Supervisory Board: accountability to the research councils

Advisory Board: appointed by UKERC – strategic advice on positioning and priorities

Directors’ Committee: management group

Theme/function meetings: vary in form, fit for purpose

UKERC IN CONTEXT

Energy Research Partnership – public-private partnership co-chaired by Chief Scientific Adviser, EON.UK CEO

Research Councils Energy Programme (RCEP) -funding to rise to £70m pa led by EPSRC

EPSRC SUPERGEN Initiative: Marine energy; Photovoltaic materials; Excitonic solar cells

Biomass Future network technologies; Highly distributed power

systems; Energy storage Hydrogen; Fuel cells power plant lifetime extension

NERC Towards a Sustainable Energy Economy Programme Keeping the nuclear option open Carbon capture and storage Bio-energy Social science – lifestyle and energy; market regulation;

scenarios and transitions Fusion Programme

UKERC TIMELINE

April 2004 – Research Director Designate appointed

June 2004 – UKERC work programme accepted

October 2004 – award issued

November 2004 – Executive Director appointed

April 2005 – HQ gets final offices, most staff in place

June/July 2005 – first Advisory Board meeting, first Supervisory Board, first Assembly

March 2006 – first research outputs

April 2006 – first version of research atlas

September 2006 – “light touch” review

October 2007 – work starts on Phase II options

April 2009 – end of Phase I contract

GENERAL OVERVIEW OF PROGRESS (1)

Research Themes started at different speeds, but now all fully up

and running Recruitment of staff and settling contracts a key factor Themes have different characters

Networking Must be sure to add value to other initiatives Networking activity started in some themes – Demand

Reduction, Futures Sources of Energy, Systems and Modelling

The “National Energy Research Network” will be launched 1st half 2006

The Network (process) and the Research Atlas (product) are closely linked

GENERAL OVERVIEW OF PROGRESS (2)

Technology and Policy Assessment First study (intermittency/renewables) almost complete

Second study (rebound effect) under way

Training: studentships awarded, first Summer School held

Meeting place: series of events (national and international)

Research Atlas: information currently being collected

Communications: internal and external getting into gear

EARLY SUCCESSES

International G8 Energy Research and Innovation Workshop, May 2005 Engagement in IEA work: ETSAP, Ad-hoc Group on Science and

Energy Technologies Will organise major IEA workshop on materials for energy in 2007 Recognition as key contact point for links into UK energy research S&T counsellors – London and overseas Bilaterals: Canada, Italy, France, Brazil, Japan, South Africa, US,

China

HMG Links Membership of Energy Research Partnership Regular contact – DTI, DEFRA, Carbon trust etc

Research Community Plugging UK researchers into international activities Joining up - successful cross-consortium SUPERGEN meeting

WORK IN PROGRESS

developing a Centre culture

realising the “whole system integrated research” concept

Meeting Place: realising the research hotel concept

lots of little networks – but creating the Network

more work on regional/business engagement

CARDIFF AND EPSRC ENERGY RESEARCH

Last year’s figures for EPSRC funding: 20th ranking in terms of value of awards held 1.1% of non-fusion funds (cf Strathclyde 10%+) Electrical Motor and Drive Systems – ranked 4th,

10% of funds Electromagnetics – ranked 9th, 3% of funds

THE EMERGING UK AGENDA

Target of £70m annual spend on energy R&D by 2007-8 from £40m base

HM Treasury identifies energy/climate as one of five strategic challenges:

“Increasing pressures on natural resources and global climate from rapid economic and population growth in the developing world and sustained demand for fossil fuels in advanced economies.”.

Research Councils and others gearing up for zero-baseline Comprehensive Spending Review 2007 – bids that address the challenges will be received “warmly”

CHALLENGES FOR UNIVERSITIES

swinging academics whose work is “energy-relevant”, but not necessarily “energy-driven”, behind the new agenda

meeting the whole-system, interdisciplinary research challenge by: creating effective internal mechanisms encouraging academics to be more disposed towards

whole-systems approaches (against significant countervailing pressures)

competing with all the other universities that have identified the same opportunity….

UK Energy Research Centre

www.ukerc.ac.uk