Provision of Evaluation of the LCRI (Low Carbon Research Institute) Projects

Descriptions

The Low Carbon Research Institute (LCRI) was established in April 2008, with funding from the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW), to develop research capacity and facilities around the existing areas of low carbon and energy expertise in Wales whilst expanding research activities into other energy related areas. Fundamental to the success of the LCRI is a collaborative relationship between universities, industry and government in order for Wales to build, sustain and export its energy research expertise. The LCRI Convergence Energy Programme was launched in September 2009, with funding from the Welsh European Funding Office (WEFO). The LCRI Convergence Energy Programme is a Research, Development and Innovation (R&D&I) programme aiming for long-term economic growth and the creation of employment opportunities for Wales. This is to be achieved by providing a strategic steer and coordinated approach for interdisciplinary industrial energy research in Wales. The LCRI Programme works with enterprises, including the SME sector in particular, to deliver industry-relevant new knowledge and technologies that will provide both business opportunities and help Wales deliver on its low carbon agenda. The delivery of the LCRI R&D&I Programme is through industrial energy research projects across Wales for the benefit of enterprises in the Convergence area. The LCRI Programme co-ordinates the allocation of the funding received from WEFO to the integrated industrial energy research projects in alignment with the research priorities of the LCRI (please see below), identified through consultation and previous work with the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) and Welsh industries. The projects selected for funding will provide a research base for the energy sector industries in Wales to help them grow, whilst delivering on the government targets for carbon dioxide emission reductions. The latest WAG targets state that all new buildings should be zero carbon by 2011, that Wales reduces its carbon dioxide emissions by 3% per annum from 2011, and is self-sufficient in renewable energy (electrical power) by 2025.Cardiff University leads the LCRI Convergence Energy Programme, with full support of its partner Universities , each contributing their expertise across a number of research areas that complement one another, including technical knowledge and necessary skills such as dissemination, network building and other knowledge transfer activities.The target beneficiaries of the LCRI Programme are enterprises in the high growth and valued sectors of energy, climate change and low carbon technologies situated within the Convergence area . The LCRI Programme will target new and existing enterprises with the view to boost the Welsh economy through creation of new ‘green jobs’.A dedicated programme management and administration team is in place at Cardiff University to ensure the LCRI Programme runs to schedule and achieves the set targets.For further detail please see the specification.