EU Research Institutes Launch Alliance to Foster Green Energy Technology

October 29, 2008 // Published as a news service by IHS

This new research alliance will be a key actor in the EU's European Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan and will accelerate the development of new technologies needed for a low-carbon economy.

In November 2007, the European Commission (EC) launched the SET Plan, which gives energy research in Europe an important push. The plan combines the potential of research capacities of major European institutes and universities with the engagement of European industry and the commitment of EU member states.

SET Plan actions will be supported by reliable information provided by the EC's European Energy Technology Information System.

The SET Plan also includes a series of new priority European Industrial Initiatives focusing on the development of technologies for which working at the European Community level will add the most value. Initiatives being prepared will focus on wind power; solar energy; bio-energy; CO2 capture, transport and storage; European smart electricity grids; and sustainable nuclear fission.

EERA is the SET Plan's research community pillar. The cooperation of major national research institutes and universities will help move from today's model of collaborating on individual projects towards a new way of jointly implementing whole programs that go from research and development through deployment.

There are many scientific fields that have an impact on the development of energy technologies, from engineering to the social sciences. The EERA can cover many different disciplines, bringing a much-needed multidisciplinary approach to energy research.

"The development of cutting-edge energy technologies requires the pooling of the best brains and resources beyond national borders. The creation of the European Energy Research Alliance that will coordinate national and European energy research programs is a crucial step forwards," said Janez Potočnik, EU commissioner for science and research.

"This test case of joint programming will enable us to leverage on a more efficient use of national and European resources and compete successfully on the international level."

Andris Piebalgs, EU energy commissioner, said, "The SET Plan offers a blueprint for Europe to develop a world-class portfolio of affordable, clean, efficient and low-emission energy technologies. The opportunity to be global leaders in low-carbon technologies lies in front of us."

The triple challenge of energy security, climate change and competitiveness that the EU currently faces is such that it will require scaling up and better coordination of all available resources to develop the energy technologies that will allow Europe's citizens to enjoy a good quality of life in a carbon-constrained future.

EERA believes that going it alone at the national level will lead to failure and waste of resources, but working together will put Europe in the driver's seat on the way to a new energy era.

Current members of the EERA are:

• Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique (CEA), France
• Centro de Investigaciones Energeticas, Medioambientales y Tecnologicas (CIEMAT), Spain
• Centre for renewable energy sources (CRES), Greece
• Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN), Netherlands
• Ente per le Nuove tecnologie, l'Energia e l'Ambiente, (ENEA), Italy
• Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZ Jülich), Germany
• INETI - Instituto Nacional de Engenharia, Tecnologia e Inovação, Portugal
• Risø DTU National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy, Denmark
• Energy Research Centre (ERC), United Kingdom
• Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT), Finland
• European University Association (EUA)
• European Heads of Research Councils (EUROHORCS)

For more information, see:

• The EERA web site
• European Commission proposes a plan to accelerate energy technologies for a low-carbon future (IP/07/1750)
• Towards a low carbon future: European Strategic Energy Technology Plan (MEMO/07/493)
• The web site for the European Strategic Energy Technology Plan
• Questions and Answers on the European Strategic Energy Technology Plan (MEMO/07/494)
• Energy for the Future of Europe: The Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan (MEMO/08/657)

Source: European Commission.