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Britain's New Energy Research Body Aims at New Technologies

Posted on: Thursday, 26 January 2006, 09:00 CST

Britain's new energy research body aims at new technologies

LONDON, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- A public-private body was launched here on Wednesday to develop new technologies to reduce carbon emissions and bridge an ever-growing skills gap in Britain's energy industry.

The Energy Research Partnership (ERP) brings together top energy industry executives, officials and senior academics in a Treasury- inspired initiative designed to give strategic direction to UK's energy research, development, demonstration and deployment.

The partnership, which also aims to help increase the level and impact of national R&D activity, will be co-chaired by Sir David King, the British government's chief scientist, and Paul Golby, chief executive of E.ON UK, the leading energy company in UK.

"Our aim is to take a visionary lead on research and innovation, " said David. "We'll be looking to influence the development and deployment of new technologies designed to support the Government' s energy policy."

Golby said: "Energy, and how we produce and use it, is one of the greatest challenges that we face as a country as we move into the 21st-century."

The partnership will initially focus on: identifying approaches and technologies to accelerate carbon reduction and maintain security of supply, at an affordable price, achieving a step change in the rate of energy innovation in the UK by considering how the UK supports energy research and development and the options for enhancing coherency, effectiveness and value of future programs.

The it will seek to address the high level skills shortages in the energy sector and communicate the exciting and challenging opportunities that the energy sector offers.

In this way the partnership seeks to promote a coherent approach to addressing energy research activity and assist the government and industry in addressing issues and barriers to the deployment of new energy technologies.

It will also be working towards the main objectives of the government's Energy White Paper, including a reduction of CO2 emissions by 60 percent by about 2050, the maintenance of reliable power supplies, the promotion of competitive markets and ensuring that every home is adequately and affordably heated.

Source: Xinhua News Agency - CEIS

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