Research Councils UK

Energy Programme

New and Sustainable PV

04 November 2014

Justin O’Byrne

For a Low Carbon Energy Future

Our Mission

Launched with investment announced in 2002.

Continues to be a major investment strand (£540m

over 4 years from 2011-15 Spending Review period).

Key UK Targets:

To position the UK to meet its energy and environmental targets and

policy goals through high quality research and postgraduate training.

80% reduction in

GHG emissions

by 2050

15% of energy from

renewable sources

by 2020.

Increases

in energy

efficiency

Drivers: Research and postgraduate training to tackle all

elements of the energy ‘trilemma’

Our Mission

Enhance security of

supply

Reducing cost

Reduce emissions

Key Objectives

To work in partnership to

contribute to the research and

postgraduate training needs of

energy-related business and

other key stakeholders.

To expand UK research

capacity in energy-related

areas.

To increase the international

visibility and level of

international collaboration

within the UK energy research

Portfolio.

To support a full spectrum of

energy research to help the

UK meet the objectives and

targets set out in the 2007

Energy White Paper.

The Energy Landscape

Public Sector organisations working together to provide coordinated activity

and a complete innovation chain. Coordinated through the Low Carbon

Innovation Co-ordination Group (LCICG) led by DECC.

The Research Councils working together to plan, develop and deliver energy research

and training within a common strategic framework through the RCUK Energy Programme.

Strategy Planning and Management

EPSRC

BBSRC

STFC

NERC

ESRC

Innovate

UK

Working together the

Councils to plan and

support energy research

and training

High level input from

a Scientific Advisory

Committee: industry,

academic, Innovate

UK, DECC & BIS

representation

The Councils

working together

strategically over

the last three

spending reviews.

EPSRC’s Portfolio

Annual Expenditure (EPSRC)

£0

£20,000,000

£40,000,000

£60,000,000

£80,000,000

£100,000,000

£120,000,000

£140,000,000

£160,000,000

£180,000,000

£200,000,000

STFC facility support

Whole Energy Systems

Nuclear

Fusion

Conventional Energy & CCS

Power Networks

Sustainable Energy Vectors

Energy Demand Reduction

Renewable Energy Sources

Research and Training (April 2014)

£842M invested in skills, research and knowledge transfer

Energy Programme 2008-09

Wave & tidal3%

Wind1%

Solar2%

Photovoltaic8%

Biofuel0%

Biomass7%

Other renewable1%

Geothermal0%

Energy Efficiency 8%

Storage2%

Fuel cells3%

Hydrogen3%

Sustainable Networks5%

CO2 sequestration3%

Conventional7%

CHP0%

Waste0%

Other Conventional2%

Fusion34%

Fission power4%

UKERC3%

STFC4%

Annual Expenditure £108M (€130M); total portfolio £530M (€680M)

Energy Programme 2013-14

Wave & tidal3%

Wind2%

Solar1%

Photovoltaic5%

Biofuel4%

Biomass5%

Other renewable1%

Geothermal0%

Energy Efficiency Buildings

3%Energy Efficiency

Process9%

Energy Efficiency Generic

5%

Storage3%Fuel cells

3%Hydrogen1%

Sustainable Networks6%

CO2 sequestration6%

Conventional5%

Waste0%

Fusion14%

NNUF6%

Fission power7%

Whole systems4%

STFC7%

Annual Expenditure £190M (€240M); total portfolio £850M (€1050M)

Key Priorities 2010-15

Reducing Energy Consumption and Demand: Development of behavioural,

market and technological advances informed by a whole system understanding.

Speculative Research: To define future energy options. eg through Grand

Challenges.

Understanding Future Energy Options: Social, environmental and economic

implications (working with LWEC).

Accelerated Deployment of Alternative Energy Technologies: Ensuring

physical, economic, social and natural sciences research and basic research

challenges are addressed – working with Innovate UK (TSB), ETI and others. eg joint

challenges around deployment issued with TSB / other partners in offshore

renewables, hydrogen and fuel cells.

Building Capacity: Providing the skilled people to deliver new energy futures

through the training and development of new researchers, policy makers and business

leaders. e.g. Growth in career advancement and leadership fellows.

Build on our major international links: Working with China and other priority

countries, enabling leading researchers to address global energy challenges together.

Support for three stages:

Postdoctoral

Early Career

Established Career

Applications welcome at any time, with two rounds

of interviews typically held each year

A ‘person specification’ is used to describe the

desired attributes for each career stage

Applicants work with their institutions to establish

which career stage suits them best

Building Leadership - Fellowships

Energy Fellowship Areas

Post-doctoral

Fellowships

Early career

Fellowships

Established career

Fellowships

Bioenergy Bioenergy

End-use Energy

Demand

End-use Energy

DemandEnd-use Energy Demand

Carbon Capture and

Storage

Carbon Capture and

Storage

Hydrogen and Fuel

CellsHydrogen and Fuel Cells

Energy Networks Energy Networks

Energy Storage Energy Storage Energy storage

Marine Energy Marine Energy

Nuclear Fission Nuclear Fission

Offshore Wind Energy Offshore Wind Energy

Solar Energy Solar Energy

Building Leadership –

Centres for Doctoral Training

The aims of our CDTs:

Provide a stimulating multidisciplinary training

experience

Teach topical courses that balance cutting edge

technologies with fundamental principles and

core concepts

Develop transferable skills in leadership,

business and research management

Foster innovative, internationally leading

research

Work in partnership with industry to provide

industrial experience and maintain relevance

Thirteen centres providing focused support for PhD training in our priority areas, building on the first round

of energy CDTs established from 2009.

Building Leadership –

Centres for Doctoral Training

Renewable energy marine structures

(REMS)

Wind and marine energy systems

Lead university:

Lead university:

Thirteen centres providing focused support for PhD training in our priority areas, building on the first round

of energy CDTs established from 2009.

Building Leadership –

Centres for Doctoral Training

Carbon capture & storage, & clean

fossil energy

Bioenergy

Lead university:

Lead university:

Thirteen centres providing focused support for PhD training in our priority areas, building on the first round

of energy CDTs established from 2009.

Building Leadership –

Centres for Doctoral Training

Power networks

Future power networks and smart

grids

Lead university:

Lead university:

Thirteen centres providing focused support for PhD training in our priority areas, building on the first round

of energy CDTs established from 2009.

Building Leadership –

Centres for Doctoral Training

Energy demand (LoLo)

Energy storage and its applications

Lead university:

Lead university:

Thirteen centres providing focused support for PhD training in our priority areas, building on the first round

of energy CDTs established from 2009.

Building Leadership –

Centres for Doctoral Training

Fuel cells & their fuels – Clean power

for the 21st century

New and sustainable PV

Lead university:

Lead university:

Thirteen centres providing focused support for PhD training in our priority areas, building on the first round

of energy CDTs established from 2009.

Building Leadership –

Centres for Doctoral Training

Nuclear energy: Building UK civil

nuclear skills for global markets

Nuclear fission- Next generation

nuclear

Lead university:

Lead university:

Thirteen centres providing focused support for PhD training in our priority areas, building on the first round

of energy CDTs established from 2009.

Building Leadership –

Centres for Doctoral Training

Science and technology of fusion

energy

Lead university:

Solar Energy

Portfolio: maintain

• £43M Total

• Supergen SuperSolar Hub (£4M)

Strategy

• Maintain funding levels

• Maintain and increase scientific capability in this

area in order to:

• Compete with R&D competitors (USA,

Germany, Japan)

• Nullify threat from less expensive

competitors

Solar Energy

Recent activities

• Hub (SuperSolar Hub)

• SPECIFIC: Buildings as power stations –

Swansea University (£5M)

• UK-India collaboration on solar

• Stability and Performance of Photovoltaics

(STAPP) £2.4M

• Advancing the Efficiency and Production

Potential of Excitonic Solar Cells (APEX) £2.5M

Current and future activities

• Solar Challenge call - £5M Q4 2014-15

• Managing varied portfolio

• Develop collaborations with Indian partners and

maximise impact of projects

Further Information

www.rcuk.ac.uk/energy

Programme Contacts

Jason GreenHead of Programme

Jacqui WilliamsEnergy Storage, Whole systems, Communications, Senior Fellows and International.

Gavin SalisburyImpact, Public Engagement, LCICG and ETI Interface, EPSRC Automotive sector lead

Neil Bateman Nuclear Fission, Balancing Capability

Glenn GoodallEnd Use Energy Demand, Smart / Low Carbon Cities, Communications

Laura Sewell Carbon capture and storage, Conventional, Geothermal and Fusion

Justin O’ByrneEnergy Networks, Power Electronics Centre, Bioenergy, Solar, SUPERGEN, International

Oliver PhilpsWind, Wave & Tidal; Hydrogen and Fuel Cells.

Sue Morrell and Claire FreeburyProgramme Support