The launch of a £102 million investment programme in new local energy approaches, which is part of the government’s modern Industrial Strategy has been completed with the announcement of a new research consortium.
The energy revolution research consortium will deliver a suite of strategic research projects that address industry- led challenges in the development of local, investable, consumer-centred energy approaches to create prosperous clean energy communities.
Chief Executive of UK Research and Innovation, Professor Sir Mark Walport said, “Clean and affordable energy is one of the biggest challenges of the 21st century and one that affects us all. The energy revolution challenge will address this societal and environmental need by unlocking the potential of world-class research and innovation.It will create the new commercial solutions that benefit consumers through reduced bills, that drive economic growth through new businesses and high-value jobs, and do this at a reduced environmental cost.
The research consortium competition builds on a series of announcements in recent weeks that detail how the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund is developing cutting-edge capabilities in local systems that deliver cleaner, cheaper and more resilient energy for consumers; which include: Smart local energy systems demonstrators and designs.
The innovation accelerator fund will develop and commercialise smart local energy system products and services, and help UK business and researchers engage with the best international innovation opportunities. A world-leading, inter-disciplinary research programme will be commissioned to work alongside the Energy Systems Catapult. The programme will provide coordination and technical support to demonstration and design projects.
The funding will be awarded competitively by UK Research and Innovation, the new organisation that brings together the UK research councils, Innovate UK and Research England into a single organisation to create the best environment for research and innovation to flourish.