The research councils have allocated the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC) funding of £13.876 million over the period 2004-09. The UKERC aims to: generate, synthesise and disseminate knowledge and insight on sustainable energy systems to enable cohesive research supporting UK energy policy goals; act as a source of authoritative information on energy research, development and demonstration competences in the UK; co-ordinate the national energy research network (a network for energy researchers); and underpin the quest for sustainable energy solutions through undertaking interdisciplinary programmes of research.
UKERC’s funding covers six research programmes plus supporting functions. It is a collaboration between eight academic and research institutions. 59 researchers (33 full-time equivalents) plus seven administrative/support staff (5.7 FTE) are supported by the UKERC. All of these are directly employed by their parent academic or research institution. Eighteen studentships are also funded through UKERC.