Finding and developing new technologies to reduce carbon emissions and taking st ...

Finding and developing new technologies to reduce carbon emissions and taking steps to bridge an ever-growing skills gap in the energy industry is high on the agenda of a new public-private body launched in the UK on 25 January 2006. The Energy Research Partnership (ERP) brings together top energy industry executives, Whitehall officials and senior academics in a Treasury-inspired initiative designed to give strategic direction to UK energy research, development, demonstration and deployment. The Partnership, which also aims to help increase the level and impact of national research and development (R&D) activity, will be co-chaired by Sir David King, the UK government's Chief Scientist, and Dr Paul Golby, Chief Executive of E.ON UK. The Partnership will initially focus on: *Identifying approaches and technologies to accelerate carbon reduction and maintain security of supply, at an affordable price, and establishing strategic objectives and priorities for energy research in the UK that helps bring these to commercial reality. *Achieving a step change in the rate of energy innovation in the UK by considering how the UK supports energy R&D and the options for enhancing coherency, effectiveness and value of future programmes. *Addressing the high-level skills shortages in the energy sector and communicating the exciting and challenging opportunities that the energy sector offers. In this way the Partnership seeks to promote a coherent approach to addressing energy research activity and assist the government and industry in addressing issues and barriers to the deployment of new energy technologies. It will also be working towards the main objectives of the government's Energy White Paper, including a reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 60% by about 2050, the maintenance of reliable power supplies, the promotion of competitive markets and ensuring that every home is adequately and affordably heated.