MASTER - Proposal for providing work to continue activity of the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC) 2009 - 2014

UKERC's over-arching aim is to provide, and communicate the outcomes of, high-quality energy research to inform the actions that government in the UK and other stakeholders must take to ensure that the energy sector moves forward along a path compatible with climate policy goals, energy security, the wider international framework and environmental, social and economic needs. The case for support for a second phase of the UK Energy Research Centre focuses on three areas of activity: a) an interdisciplinary, whole systems research programme with an increasingly international focus; b) capacity building activities through interdisciplinary PhD training and support for early career researchers; and c) a range of knowledge exchange activities aimed at disseminating knowledge, reinforcing the cohesion of the UK energy research community, connecting it effectively with stakeholder groups and enhancing links with international energy researchers. The research programme is framed by a cluster of research and scientific challenges responding to a rapidly changing energy agenda driven by environmental and security concerns. The challenges are: driving systemic change in the energy sector; managing environmental impacts; and enhancing energy security and resilience. The challenges will be met by drawing on competences within four research themes, each interdisciplinary in character and each led by a senior UK researcher. The themes are: Energy Demand; Energy Supply; Energy and Environment; and Energy Systems. In addition, a Technology and Policy Assessment function will conduct in-depth reviews of difficult topics within the energy domain, building on the systematic review approaches developed in Phase I. We propose mechanisms for defining and commissioning a flexible programme of research which will develop in response to emerging needs and will engage a much wider range of researchers who can contribute to the energy agenda. The principal capacity building mechanisms will be an interdisciplinary studentship competition, an annual summer school and support for the "SPARKS" early career network. Knowledge exchange will be delivered through: a) a continuation of the Phase I communications function targeting the media and opinion-forming groups; and b) a more tightly specified Networking function, under whose auspices we will operate the successful Meeting Place function; maintain and develop, with an increasing emphasis on roadmapping activity, the UK Energy Research Atlas; and use mechanisms such as meetings, newsletters and the website to operate the National Energy Research Network (NERN) in order to connect the UK energy research community both internally and with other stakeholders in the UK and overseas. We propose that a core partnership of six institutions will be led by the Executive and Research Directors operating from the Headquarters at Imperial College. The governance structure which operated under Phase I, comprising the Supervisory Board, Advisory Board and Directors' Committee, will be strengthened by creating a new Research Committee comprising both members of the core consortium, members of the wider community and other stakeholders. This will oversee the flexible programme of research and the studentship competition.