UKERC's over-arching aim is to provide, and communicate the outcomes of, high-quality energy
research to inform the actions that government in the UK and other stakeholders must take to ensure that
the energy sector moves forward along a path compatible with climate policy goals, energy security, the
wider international framework and environmental, social and economic needs.
The case for support for a second phase of the UK Energy Research Centre focuses on three areas of
activity: a) an interdisciplinary, whole systems research programme with an increasingly international
focus; b) capacity building activities through interdisciplinary PhD training and support for early career
researchers; and c) a range of knowledge exchange activities aimed at disseminating knowledge,
reinforcing the cohesion of the UK energy research community, connecting it effectively with stakeholder
groups and enhancing links with international energy researchers.
The research programme is framed by a cluster of research and scientific challenges responding to a
rapidly changing energy agenda driven by environmental and security concerns. The challenges are:
driving systemic change in the energy sector; managing environmental impacts; and enhancing energy
security and resilience. The challenges will be met by drawing on competences within four research
themes, each interdisciplinary in character and each led by a senior UK researcher. The themes are:
Energy Demand; Energy Supply; Energy and Environment; and Energy Systems. In addition, a
Technology and Policy Assessment function will conduct in-depth reviews of difficult topics within the
energy domain, building on the systematic review approaches developed in Phase I. We propose
mechanisms for defining and commissioning a flexible programme of research which will develop in
response to emerging needs and will engage a much wider range of researchers who can contribute to the
energy agenda.
The principal capacity building mechanisms will be an interdisciplinary studentship competition, an
annual summer school and support for the "SPARKS" early career network.
Knowledge exchange will be delivered through: a) a continuation of the Phase I communications function
targeting the media and opinion-forming groups; and b) a more tightly specified Networking function,
under whose auspices we will operate the successful Meeting Place function; maintain and develop, with
an increasing emphasis on roadmapping activity, the UK Energy Research Atlas; and use mechanisms
such as meetings, newsletters and the website to operate the National Energy Research Network (NERN)
in order to connect the UK energy research community both internally and with other stakeholders in the
UK and overseas.
We propose that a core partnership of six institutions will be led by the Executive and Research Directors
operating from the Headquarters at Imperial College. The governance structure which operated under
Phase I, comprising the Supervisory Board, Advisory Board and Directors' Committee, will be
strengthened by creating a new Research Committee comprising both members of the core consortium,
members of the wider community and other stakeholders. This will oversee the flexible programme of
research and the studentship competition.