Research Councils UK Energy Programme and CCS

Jacqui Williams

UKCCSC network

Our vision for this network is that it will enable:Coordination within the research community and sharing of results in this fast growing fieldEngagement with stakeholders and pilot projectsInternational engagementDevelopment of researchers

Encourage involvement from researchers new to the areaEasy “route in” and information source.

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EPSRC From Strategy to Delivery

V0.5

Indicative Expenditure by Theme (£M)

Theme 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15

National Capability 27 412 406 400

Manufacturing the Future 78 79 82 83

Energy (excl ETI) 109 109 109 112

Digital Economy 26 26 27 27

Healthcare Technologies 76 76 76 76

Other Themes 17 17 17 17

Our three Strategic Plan goals

Delivering Impact

Embedding impact throughout our portfolio by creating an environment in which it arises naturally, in whatever form, from the knowledge base

Shaping Capability

Ensuring we have the right people, with the right resource, in the right places to deliver the highest quality long-term research in areas where the UK leads internationally and where there is current or future national need

Developing Leaders

Nurturing the visionary leaders who set research agendas and inspirational team leaders who act as role models

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Long term science and engineering research is at the h eart of discovery and innovation.

Drive culture change in universities:

Embed resources for impact within our research grants rath er than having distinct add-on schemes;

Pathways to impact at all stages of the research prog ramme

Encourage alignment key partners’ strategies to a na tional agenda

Enhance accessibility of data and knowledge about o ur research and its outcomes to accelerate its exploitation

Enhance research mobility.

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Delivering Impact

Our ambition is to use our comprehensive view of the EP S portfolio to bring greater coherence to the research base, reflectin g national needs and maximising limited resources

Co-define the landscape of research and training we wish to supportfocused on

strategic UK needs

the areas where the UK is an acknowledged leader

excellent centres of critical mass

Reduction of the breadth of our portfolio in favour of areas of strength

More coordination and collaboration between univers ities rather than competition.

Enable the researchers we sponsor to raise their am bitions and maximise their creativity.

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Shaping capability

We will support and promote leadership role models who can inspire others and can integrate the efforts of their peers to deliver greater impact from our investment.

Increase support to individuals not projects ;

Identify and invest preferentially in current leade rs

Develop by broadening their experience our near-fut ure leaders

Identify and support early career researchers with the greatest potential (stage-gating approach)

Tailor our support for individuals with leadership potential across all career stages

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Developing Leaders

From Funder to Sponsor

Applies across all three Strategic Plan goals

Cultural and behavioural challenges on both sides

Needs a clear statement of expectations and require ments

More active and effective relationships to develop shared agendas and capture and promote outputs and benefits

Constrained financial environment; more active lead ership of national agenda in the context of wider societal benefit

Recognition that financial support is a national re source which has responsibilities as well as rights

Continued funding dependent upon demonstrable benef its from previous support

Implementing the Delivery Plan 2011-15

Published today on our website

Sets out priorities for the next four years

Gives an overview, including the revised organisation structure and budgets for the first 6 months

Our approach to transformative change, including further detail on our move from funder to sponsor

Strategic goals

The plan will be updated over the delivery plan period and further theme plans included around June

International Review of Energy

• Benchmark the strength of UK research activity compared to world competitors and highlight any gaps or missed opportunities

• Provide a broad perspective on the UK’s research activity and aid with future planning

• Visiting international panel of 16 experts – October 2010 – led by Carsten Westergaard, Vestas. Rosemary Falcon (Witwatersrand) and Dongxiao Zhang (Peking) for CCS and coal

• Town meeting held to present results 18 January 2011

• Action plan in response being developed

High level findings

Across almost all areas the panel found interesting, leading-edge and world class research. The excellent international reputation of UK research is deservedly earned.

Good value is being delivered but in terms of impact on economicbenefit, industry development and quality of life much more can be done.

Weaknesses arise because of a lack of a sustained long term coherent energy research programme across the different funding bodies and the lack of clear mechanisms for moving from researchto early demonstration, application and deployment.

High level recommendationsA fully integrated “roadmap” for UK research targets

A single, well defined, cross-Councils energy research budget to provide a common vision and strategy to the research community and to avoid conflicting priorities

More transparent allocation process for strategic programmes to ensure better/optimal research community involvement, thereby secure deliverables

There needs to be increased efforts to identify opportunities, provide funding and then promote, recognize and reward interdisciplinary R&D.

More attention and resources directed to career paths both in industry and academia for multidisciplinary work

R&D on demand reduction needs a higher profile in the R&D portfolio, and may warrant a dedicated programme.

CCS and coal research specifics

UK has produced some excellent examples of world class CCS and coal research and training – on interdisciplinary and inter-organisational basis.

Needs a long term vision on roadmap basis including a route to carrying these activities into large scale pilots.

Little if any broad-scale intercontinental understanding of coals – qualities, performances and emission characteristics of lower grade coals

Coal research should include programmes that cover alternative coal-based energy technologies, such as fluidised bed combustion and gasification.

See www.rcuk.ac.uk for further information

CCS: Activities 2011/12Projects

Likely to be one call in CCS from EPSRC – natural gas CCS or engineering challenges of storage. NERC developing plans for future funding of CCS.

Community coordinationContinue to work with the research community, DECC, TSB, ETI and NERC to help create a coordinated community. EERA roleFENCO net

OtherEPSRC Review of Centres for Doctoral TrainingESRC seeking input on their strategyETI support and funding