UK energy research receives funding boost
13 Nov 2012
One of the Research Councils’ biggest investments in research to support energy efficiency policy and contribute to cutting carbon use and greenhouse gas emissions in the UK was unveiled today.
Five new End Use Energy Demand (EUED) research centres, that will look into the complexities of energy use across society, are to receive over £26 million funding from two research councils and a further £13 million from industrial partners.
Energy and Climate Change Minister, Greg Barker, announced the funding today while visiting the Energy Institute at University College London.
The announcement coincides with the launch of three new reports, Technology Innovation Needs Assessments (TINAS), which examine the economic and environmental potential of low carbon innovation in the development of industry, homes and non-domestic buildings.
One project to receive a share of the funding is research into food led by Brunel University in collaboration with Manchester and Birmingham Universities.
Taking a ‘gate to plate’ view the Centre for Sustainable Energy Use in Food Chains will develop innovative approaches, processes and technologies for energy demand reduction in all stages of the food chain; production, distribution, retail and consumption.
Researchers will work closely with some of the UK’s major food manufacturers, retailers, equipment manufacturers and scientific and technical providers.
A further project led by Cambridge Universtiy will look at reducing the use of both energy, and energy-intensive materials.
The project hopes to develop a better understanding of the operation and performance of the whole material and energy system of UK industry.
