Background

Development of energy technologies that can significantly reduce global carbon emissions will require an international effort. Initiatives from the EU, IEA and G8 demand that the UK take a strategic approach in involvement in international activities, which should include public and private sectors.

Aims

For each technology area there are 3 categories of international engagement beneficial to the UK:

1) The UK leads and there is an export opportunity
2) The UK is on a par and needs to work with peers to develop a technology
3) The UK is behind but requires the technology

The primary aim of this work is to provide guidance for high-level visits to other countries, so that the agendas pursued and agreements signed are in the UK’s interests according to the category of engagement sought. Output will therefore be in the form of a living document. It will contain guidelines specific to technologies and potential partner countries, useful to anyone involved in international activity anywhere along the innovation chain. Initially the ERP will be an appropriate and neutral home for this.

Secondly the aim is to provide guidance to technology experts on the location of the main hotspots for key low carbon technologies.

Connections with other work

The Technology Innovation Needs Assesments (TINAs)s, commissioned by the Low Carbon Innovation Co-odrination Group (LCICG), are forming a good starting point to this work, although not all areas are covered. DECC are carrying out some work in this area and Innovate UK (Brussels Office) have made some assessments also. These works will be key to ensuring there’s no repetition of effort.

Steering Group

Currently Innovate UK, Welsh Government & DECC, but further input is sought, especially from ERP’s Industrial Members.