Executive Director of New UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC) Appointed
The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), on behalf of the Research Councils was given the task of setting up the new UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC). Chris Franklin (cfr@nerc.ac.uk) Head of Earth Science and Technology, Science Programmes Directorate at NERC reported last time on the appointment of the first Research Director. Here Chris reports that NERC has appointed the Executive Director with responsibility to drive the UK 's reductions in carbon dioxide emissions. For more information about UKERC see http://www.nerc.ac.uk/funding/programmes/sustenergy.
UK Energy Research Centre appoints Executive Director
Mr John Loughhead, former Vice-President of Technology for the energy giant Alstom, has been appointed Executive Director of the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC), to help co-ordinate research in Britain's drive to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 60% by 2050.
Mr Loughhead has over 25 years' experience leading research and development teams in energy and transport, and co-ordinated technology internationally within Alstom, a company responsible for one fifth of the world's energy capacity.
As Vice-President of the Institution of Electrical Engineers and Chairman of its Energy Panel, a member of the Defence Scientific Advisory Council Technology Board, and an independent assessor of both the DTI's New & Renewable Energy programme and the European Commission energy research programme, he already has an excellent track record in this field and started his new post on 8 November 2004.
Mr Loughhead said, "Sustainable energy supplies are vital to the future of the UK. I am delighted to have the opportunity to help bring together our world-class research skills through this initiative to meet the challenge".
He will have overall responsibility for UKERC operation and will work closely with the Research Director, Professor Jim Skea, who is responsible for the centre's research programme.
For further details see http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/press/20041109ukerc.asp.