Programme manager
EPSRC - Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

Programme
Research Councils Energy Programme

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)

The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is the UK Government's leading funding agency for research and postgraduate training in engineering and the physical sciences. EPSRC is a non-departmental governmental public body, funded by the Government through the Department of Trade and Industry's Office of Science and Technology.
EPSRC invests approximately 750 million Euro a year in world-class research that forms the basis for future economic development in the UK and leads to improvements in everyone's health, personal well-being and lifestyle. EPSRC also actively promotes public awareness of science and engineering. EPSRC distributes its funding to universities and research and training organisations in research grants, fellowships and support for doctoral and masters-level training. EPSRC's five overarching strategic objectives are:

• supporting world-class research in the engineering and physical sciences, addressing the challenges facing the economy and society;
• developing talented scientists and engineers;
• supporting the knowledge economy;
• public engagement with research;
• and effective and efficient operations.

EPSRC supports a wide-ranging R&D programme in renewable and low carbon energy spanning a wide range of technology with a total expenditure of approximately GBP 12.5 million (EUR 18.25 million) in 2003/4. Of the UK Research Councils, EPSRC is the largest sponsor of bioenergy R&D with annual expenditure in 2003/04 of GBP 1.1 million (EUR 1.6 million) including the UK Biomass and Biofuels Consortium, comissioned under EPSRC's Sustainable Power Generation and Supply Programme (SUPERGEN).

EPSRC collaborates closely with its sister UK Research Councils; the Natural Environment Research Coucil (NERC), Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC); that support complementary research programmes within their respective disciplines. EPSRC, NERC and ESRC co-sponsor a joint energy R&D programme 'Towards a Sustainable Energy Economy' and are in the process of comissioning a GBP 12 million (17.5 million Euro) UK Energy Research Centre.

EPSRC also collaborates closely with other UK Government funders of energy R&D including the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), and other key Government agencies such as the Carbon Trust. The relevant UK Government Renewable Energy policy instruments include the Renewables Obligation (an obligation on electricity suppliers to supply 10% of electricity from renewable energy by 2010, soon to be 15% by 2015, subject to the cost not being excessive), the Climate Change Levy (a tax on business energy use from which renewable energy sources are exempt), Capital Grants for offshore wind and biomass, and the New and Renewable Energy R&D Programme. The DTI leads UK policy in Renewable Energy matters.

EPSRC representatives will participate in the management board meetings and in setting policy and direction in the ERA-NET. EPSRC will ensure continuity of approach for the UK contribution throughout the length of the Action through collaborative working with its UK sister funding agencies.

For general information: http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/
For more information on the programme: http://www.supergen-bioenergy.net/ 

Contact point:
Dr. Hayley Dash
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
Polaris House North Star Avenue
Swindon SN2 1ET
Tel. +44 1793 444112
Fax : +44 1793 444187
E-mail: hayley.dash@epsrc.ac.uk

Top