Cardiff University Energy Research and UKERC

1. Cardiff University Energy Research and UKERC Cardiff University Energy Seminar 8 February 2006 Prof Jim Skea, UKERC Research Director

2. 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

3. 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)

4. CENTRE FUNCTIONS • Research Atlas (landscape, roadmaps) • Technology and Policy Assessment • The Meeting Place – research hotel function • International engagement • Training (summer school, interdisciplinary studentships)

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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”

14. 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….

15. UK Energy Research Centre www.ukerc.ac.uk