UK Energy Research Centre Phase 3

3298b2ec-5809-4371-b748-f732ca65e226

Closed

EPSRC
EPSRC
EPSRC
EPSRC
EPSRC

£67,659,805

April 30, 2014

Aug. 31, 2019

This proposal sets out a five-year programme of activities for phase 3 of the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC). UKERC's main objective will be to conduct and synthesise independent research on energy systems that is academically excellent and relevant to policy, business and other stakeholders. UKERC's research programme will be complemented by engagement and knowledge exchange activities, some of which will be performed on behalf of (or in conjunction with) the wider UK energy research community. Phase 3 will build on UKERC's strong track record of research and engagement.

UKERC's research and other activities will be substantially re-oriented in phase 3. The first two phases of UKERC focused on understanding what a decarbonised UK energy system will look like in 2050 and how the transition towards this system could be achieved. The third phase will recognise the increasingly contested and uncertain nature of energy system change. It will explore the UK energy transition in an uncertain world, and the synergies and trade-offs between the key drivers for this transition. Whilst the need to achieve deep emissions reductions will remain a driver for UKERC's research, phase 3 will analyse a wider range of potential energy system transitions in the UK. These include future energy pathways that do not achieve such deep reductions in emissions.

The phase 3 research programme will comprise six interdisciplinary themes, each of which is guided by a problem-focused research question. These themes will focus on the development and analysis of future pathways for the UK energy system; the implications of these pathways for resources and vectors; the implications for energy systems at local, national and international scales; the interactions between the energy system and the wider economy; the implications for decision making by individuals and organisations; and the review and synthesis of evidence on contentious energy topics.

UKERC phase 3 will include a core research programme and a flexible Research Fund. The fund will increase the breadth and depth of UKERC's research programme, provide resources to strengthen UKERC's links with other important research centres, and will ensure that UKERC is more inclusive. The UKERC research programme will be expanded by a number of separately commissioned Research Challenges, the first of which will focus on valuing natural capital in low carbon pathways.

The research programme will continue to be complemented by the Research Atlas (including the research register and energy data centre), and core non-research functions. These include three knowledge exchange networks for policy, business and academic communities, a substantial communications function, international engagement activities including EERA, continuation of the UKERC summer school on a trial fee-paying basis, and a network for early career researchers.

Potential Impact:
UKERC phase 3 will build on a strong track record of impacts on academic, policy, business and other communities during phases 1 and 2. Many of these impacts will continue to be achieved on the basis of an internationally leading interdisciplinary research programme that is both independent and relevant to stakeholder communities. Most of UKERC's core functions will be explicitly focused on facilitating and delivering these impacts. Three structured Knowledge Exchange networks are proposed for policy, business and academic communities. They will be complemented by substantial communications activities and other interactions of senior researchers and staff with policy, media, academic and business communities.

UKERC will therefore continue to achieve high levels of impact during phase 3, through tailored activities for:
- Policy-makers and parliamentarians, through the production of independent insights into the needs, options, consequences, costs, and potential limitations of future energy policies. These insights will be communicated through and regular, tailored policy briefings; membership of advisory bodies; formal submissions to consultations; and policy newsletters and bulletins;
- The academic energy research community, through a substantial output of interdisciplinary peer-reviewed publications; building capacity through PhD studentships and early career researchers (including maintenance of the 'SPARKS' network); facilitating networking and discussion of emerging research agendas; and the representational and coordinating role played by UKERC to facilitate UK participation in bodies such as EERA.
- Industry, through system level qualitative and quantitative analyses communicated through tailored industry bulletins and UKERC research reports; by facilitating participation in future research needs workshops with the research community; and through access to a network of acknowledged experts, including those outside UKERC's research programme;
- Civil society (including NGOs) and the general public, though the dissemination of independent research on contemporary energy issues; informing media debates; and by conducting commissioned research (in cases where it is clear that UKERC will maintain independence).