November 2003

From Engineering and Physical Science Research Council

Work begins on powering a sustainable future for the UK

Inauguration of SUPERGEN

Work is getting underway to take the UK into a significantly more sustainable way of meeting its energy needs for the future.

Four Consortia, set up earlier this year under the SUPERGEN initiative, will now start working at ways of improving the UK's renewable power generation and supply systems. These collaborations are covering the areas of Marine Energy, Networks & Power Control, Hydrogen Energy & Storage and Biomass & Biofuels.

SUPERGEN is managed by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.

The inauguration keynote address will be given by Stephen Timms MP, Minister for Energy, e-Commerce and Postal Services.

The SUPERGEN initiative was launched in September 2001. It is investing more than �25M over five years in sustainable power generation. These four virtual centres are the first to be funded through this initiative and each will run for four years.

This research cuts across many disciplines incorporating political, social, environmental and economic factors covering climate change, fossil fuel extraction rates, emissions control and increasing public awareness of environmental concerns.

The multidisciplinary nature of this research is reflected in the fact that the EPSRC is managing the SUPERGEN initiative working with the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC).

Each Consortia brings together leading researchers working alongside industry. A key element of the SUPERGEN philosophy is that interaction with industry will lead to "real world" problems being addressed.

It will also be announced at the event that the Carbon Vision Partnership will be investing �4 � 6 M over the next 3 � 4 years in R&D focused on the generation and supply of low carbon power. This investment will be channelled through SUPERGEN, and will increase the R&D investment in this key area to �30 M. This new funding will substantially increase the scope and impact of the work. It is also expected that the involvement of Carbon Vision with SUPERGEN will help take forward the recommendation made in the Energy White paper on the need to build closer links with industry.

The Carbon Vision partnership between the Carbon Trust and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council was formed to improve links between the needs of business and the capabilities of University R&D departments to deliver on low carbon technologies and solutions in the UK.

Agenda for the day

In collaboration with BBSRC, ESRC and NERC
Inauguration of the EPSRC's SUPERGEN Initiative

11 November 2003 Terrace Pavilion, House of Commons, Westminster

11:05 Press Briefing Terrace Pavilion (with representatives from EPSRC, the Carbon Trust and the four consortia)

12:15 Registration Terrace Pavilion

12:30 Lunch/Networking Session

13:40 Chairman's Welcome Mr Tom Delay, Chief Executive - Carbon Trust

13:45 Keynote Address Stephen Timms MP Minister for Energy, e-Commerce and Postal Services

14:00 Accepting the Energy Challenge Randal Richards Director for Research and Innovation, EPSRC

14:15 Close Mr Tom Delay, Chief Executive - Carbon Trust

Notes for Editors:
In collaboration with BBSRC, ESRC and NERC, this first phase of the SUPERGEN (Sustainable Power Generation and Supply) initiative provided �12M of funding for four consortia in the following themes:

  • Networks � Research into the transmission and distribution of power.

  • Biomass and biofuels � Using renewable fast-growing crops as a sustainable energy source.

  • Marine - Harnessing the power of the oceans around our coastline for renewable energy.

  • Hydrogen technology � Exploring the options for hydrogen as the clean fuel of the future.

EPSRC is working closely with other agencies, such as the Carbon Trust and DTI, to ensure that the work supported through SUPERGEN meets the wider objectives for a sustainable future for the UK.

More information on SUPERGEN can be found on EPSRC's website: http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/.

The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is the UK's main agency for funding research in engineering and the physical sciences. The EPSRC invests more than �500 million a year in research and postgraduate training, to help the nation handle the next generation of technological change. The areas covered range from information technology to structural engineering, and mathematics to materials science. This research forms the basis for future economic development in the UK and improvements for everyone's health, lifestyle and culture. EPSRC also actively promotes public awareness of science and engineering. EPSRC works alongside other Research Councils with responsibility for other areas of research. The Research Councils work collectively on issues of common concern via Research Councils UK. Website address for more information on EPSRC: http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/.

Details of the other Research Councils involved can be found at the following sites:
The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/
The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) http://www.esrc.ac.uk/
The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) http://www.nerc.ac.uk/

For more information on the Carbon Trust visit http://www.thecarbontrust.co.uk.

If you'd like to attend the press briefing, please reply to this e-mail with the following information:
Your name:
Name of your organisation:
Contact telephone number:

Places are limited and will be reserved on a first to reply basis.

Directions to the venue can be found at: http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/colmap.pdf (nearest tube: Westminster (Circle, District and Jubilee lines).

For more information contact:
EPSRC Press Officer, Jane Reck, tel 01793- 444312, e-mail: [email protected].
EPSRC Programme Manager for Infrastructure and the Environment, Peter Hedges tel: 01793 444176, e-mail: [email protected].
Carbon Trust: Paul Stelmaszczyk, tel: 020-7636-7366, e-mail: [email protected].



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