Saturday 30 April 2016

UK invests £60m in Midlands’ energy hub

UK invests £60m in Midlands’ energy hub

The UK Government has announced an investment worth £60 million for an energy hub in the Midlands.

The money aims to help establish a new Energy Research Accelerator (ERA) centre to support the growth of the region’s technology and economy.

It will tackle some of the energy challenges the sector is facing by being more efficient and innovative whilst producing affordable and safe energy.

Researchers in the the centre will focus on smarter energy systems, reducing the UK’s dependence on importing power, enhancing security and resilience and helping to achieve the country's carbon reduction targets.

The ERA is the first project to be delivered by the 'Midlands Innovation' initiative, a collaboration of six universities across the region.

The government said this investment has unlocked private sector co-investment of a further £120 million for the first phase of the programme.

Professor Sir David Greenaway, Vice Chancellor of the University of Nottingham and Chair of Midlands Innovation said: "With the Energy Research Accelerator we have created a cross-disciplinary research hub which connects academia and industry to create jobs, drive growth, develop skills and produce innovative new products with sustainable, practical uses.

"Through exciting applications of combined research expertise such as ERA, Midlands Innovation will help leverage the capabilities of the Midlands with national and international firms and investors and provide a platform for productivity for the region and wider UK."

Written by

Bruna Pinhoni

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