Briefing: Navigating the UK energy funding landscape

Abstract

The Energy Generation and Supply Knowledge Transfer Network has developed a free online Energy Funding Landscape Navigator which takes users through the energy funding landscape, providing clear guidance on the key public bodies and support mechanisms for UK energy projects. Users can search a live list of energy research, development, demonstration and deployment opportunities and can get help in finding the right partners to build project teams. Developed by the UK Energy Research Centre, the Navigator addresses feedback from the research, development, demonstration and deployment community, which indicated that the myriad of schemes to access public support for energy innovation was confusing and that opportunities were being missed. The Navigator is particularly valuable to smaller technology companies who struggle to keep up to speed with the myriad of support mechanisms in the UK. The Navigator also fulfils an important role to keep up to date with the evolution of the energy innovation landscape as the UK low-carbon energy strategy develops. For example, the Navigator was a central point of information for the energy community for tracking developments after the 2010 comprehensive spending review.