Home in Sight for Energy Technologies Institute

Bids from five outstanding university organisations have been short-listed to host the UK's new Energy Technologies Institute (ETI).

In a speech yesterday on energy policy at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling said:

"The Energy Technologies Institute is a unique venture. With a potential billion pound budget, it is bringing together government and some of the world's biggest companies and will help to establish the UK as one of the leaders in global clean energy development.

"The host will be the base for the Institute's Director and support staff and we anticipate it developing into a strategic focus for low carbon technology innovation in the UK and for international collaboration."

Bids were assessed by representatives of the funding organisations on the basis of energy research capability, reputation and culture; space, facilities and accessibility; and commitment to the ETI. The five short-listed are:

* Midland Consortium - University of Nottingham with Loughborough and Birmingham

* North East Consortium - University of Newcastle with Durham, Northumbria, NaREC (New and Renewable Energy Centre) and the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI)

* North West Consortium - University of Manchester with Lancaster, Liverpool and NWDA (North West Development Agency)

* Energy Technology Partnership from Scotland - Universities of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, St Andrews and Heriot-Watt

* Sheffield University (Advanced Manufacturing Park)

Representatives of the funding organisations will now visit each of those short-listed and will make a final recommendation to the ETI Board by the early Autumn. There will be a range of opportunities for all high calibre research organisations to engage in the research activities of the ETI as the technical priorities begin to emerge.

The ETI is bringing together some of the world's biggest companies - BP, E.ON UK, Shell, EDF Energy, Rolls-Royce, Caterpillar, and Scottish and Southern Energy Group. Their funding contribution, along with Government, provides the Institute with a potential budget of over £600 million over a lifetime of a minimum of 10 years. Additional private sector partners are being identified to match the Government's commitment of £500m over the next decade.

The objectives of the Institute are to:

* Accelerate the deployment of new low-carbon energy technologies, including the efficient production and use of energy, in support of the UK's energy and climate change goals

* Provide a strategic focus in the UK for low carbon energy R&D

* Increase the level of funding in the UK for low carbon energy R&D

* Promote international technology collaboration

* Increase UK R&D capacity

* Promote people, skills and knowledge sharing.

Energy Technologies Institute

•    The 2006 budget included announcement of intention to establish a new energy and environment research institute, as a 50:50 public-private partnership with a budget of £100 million p.a. for at least 10 years. A detailed prospectus was published in September 2006 to seek broader participation and views on the Energy Technologies Institute. It brings together public and private sector R&D in the UK to set strategic direction and fund its delivery. It will provide the UK with a world-class means for delivering applied energy technology research to underpin eventual deployment.

•    The Institute will operate on a "distributed" basis with research undertaken by centres of excellence across the UK and overseas, as necessary. The projects these teams deliver will accelerate the progress of industrially applicable innovative energy technologies through the innovation chain to enable some commercial deployment within 10 years.

3. Research organisations across the UK were invited in January to indicate any interest in hosting the ETI Director and support staff. The initial submissions were considered by a Host Selection Group representing the industrial and public sector funding partners against a set of high level criteria. A shortlist of organisations to be invited to work-up detailed proposals has been agreed by the shadow ETI Board.

•    More information is available at Energy Technologies Institute

Posted 15/05/07

Back