According to the government, the objectives of the institute are to accelerate the deployment of new low-carbon energy technologies, including the efficient production and use of energy, in support of the UK’s energy and climate change goals.
It is also hoped that an the energy technologies institute (ETI) will provide a strategic focus in the UK for low-carbon energy research and development, as well as increasing research funding and capacity, and promoting international technology collaboration.
The potential hosts are a midlands consortium; a northeast consortium; a northwest consortium, and an energy technology partnership from Scotland, each of which is made up of a number regional universities. In addition, there is a lone bid from Sheffield University’s advanced manufacturing park.
The ETI is bringing together major energy players including BP, E.ON UK, Shell, EDF Energy and Scottish and Southern Energy. According to the government, when added to its own funding, the companies’ contributions will provide a potential budget of over GBP600 million over a minimum lifetime of 10 years.
UK trade and industry secretary Alistair Darling said: The ETI is a unique venture. With a potential billion pound budget, it is bringing together government and some of the world’s biggest companies and will help to establish the UK as one of the leaders in global clean energy development.
The government said that additional private sector partners are being identified to match its commitment of GBP500 million over the next decade. A final recommendation regarding the ETI will be submitted to the ETI board by early autumn 2007.
