Other public support for low carbon innovation
Innovation support is needed from early stage research and development through to demonstration and pre-commercial deployment. DECC is mainly involved with the later stages, with other players supporting earlier stage interventions.
Main providers of support
The Energy Generation and Supply Knowledge Transfer Network should be the first port of call for enquiries about funding and other opportunities. However, brief summaries of some of the organisations that support innovation at its different stages are given below:
- the Research Councils UK Energy Programme provides funding for basic strategic and applied research into a wide range of technology areas
- the Technology Strategy Board supports medium-size research and development projects using technology-specific research calls
- the Energy Technologies Institute is a public-private partnership that invests in developing full-system solutions to long term energy challenges
- Carbon Trust offers a wide range of support for low carbon innovation mainly in the pre-market arena
- DECC supports and demonstrates key later-stage innovative technologies relating to energy supply and efficiency
- The European Union coordinates a Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET Plan). This aims to support the development of energy technologies that will be necessary to meet the EU’s 2020 targets and 2050 vision, for security of supply; sustainability; and competitiveness. To receive regular updates by Newsletter on the SET Plan and other European initiatives, please email steve.martin@decc.gsi.gov.uk
- Energie Helpline is a free UK Government-funded service that helps UK companies and research institutions access EU energy technology research, development and demonstration funding programmes. Advice available from this service covers the EU’s Framework Programme 7Energy theme; Intelligent energy Europe 2 and the SET Plan.