NERC - Towards a Sustainable Energy Economy

NERC is leading a cross-Councils energy programme called "Towards a Sustainable Energy Economy". The call for expressions of interest has now closed. However, it is timely to alert companies to the fact that universities have been asked for expressions of interest for energy proposals and will be seeking industry support for any invited full bids. Full details can be found at http://www.nerc.ac.uk/funding/programmes/sustenergy/callforproposals.shtml . Enquiries to Dr Chris J Franklin, Head of Earth Science and Technology, Science Programmes Directorate cfr@nerc.ac.uk

The Towards a Sustainable Energy Economy programme (TSEC) is aimed at enabling the UK to access a secure, safe, diverse and reliable energy supply at competitive prices, while meeting the challenge of global warming. The Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC), Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) jointly have funding of £28 million for the programme, which is co-ordinated by NERC on behalf of the three Research Councils, with participation from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils (CCLRC). The Councils are advised on the use of the programme's funds by the TSEC Scientific Advisory Committee.

TSEC is an interdisciplinary research programme that will adopt whole systems integrated approaches. The Research Councils' working definition of a whole systems approach is: "A whole systems integrated methodology demanding a truly interdisciplinary approach that facilitates the joint working of engineering, technological, natural, environmental, social and economic scientists to tackle fundamental issues (such as sustainable energy)." A whole systems approach should ensure that new work carried out complements current and planned activities of the individual Research Councils in the area concerned and will take into account known understanding for the issues addressed.

The TSEC programme will provide a focus for, but will not be the only source of, energy research in the UK . As such, the TSEC programme will aim to make an impact on UK energy research by promoting this whole systems approach.

Up to £12 million of the programme's funding will be used to establish the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC) by 1st April 2004 , for which the Councils have already invited full proposals. The Centre's two major activities will be its own research programme and the co-ordination of a National Energy Research Network. The remainder of the TSEC programme's funds (at least £16 million) will be used to support research that will operate independently of, but complementary to, the research done by UKERC. The call for proposals was broadly under the following themes:

• Carbon Management
• Nuclear Power
• Renewable Energy
• Managing New Uncertainties.

In keeping with the whole systems approach of the programme, applications were invited from all disciplines that have a research interest in any of the themes (e.g. the environmental, social, economic and technological aspects of nuclear power). This first call covered all aspects of the TSEC programme but the Research Councils wish to focus initially on two of the themes: Nuclear Power and Managing New Uncertainties. It is anticipated that a further call focused in particular on the other two themes - Carbon Management and Renewable Energy - will be issued in mid-2004.

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