In November 2015 it was announced in George Osbourne’s Comprehensive Spending Review that the British government would provide a £60 million capital investment in the Energy Research Accelerator (ERA) with an additional £120 million provided by private sector companies such as Schlumberger.
What is ERA?
ERA is a £180 million cross-disciplinary energy research initiative bringing together seven leading UK institutions located in the Midlands; The University of Nottingham, Aston University, The University of Birmingham, The University of Leicester, Loughborough University, The University of Warwick and the British Geological Survey. ERA will build upon the Midlands strong reputation for industry and provide investment in the region.
The purpose of ERA is to generate research and develop new technologies that will help tackle some of the biggest energy challenges facing the economy, including how to produce affordable and safe energy.
GERC, as a collaboration between The University of Nottingham and the British Geological Survey, has received £2.5 million in funding from ERA
ERA Research Themes
ERA and the research it will generate are split into three complimentary research themes.
Geo- Energy Systems Accelerator (G-ERA)
Focusing on next generation gaseous related technologies including geo-energy, carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and energy storage, helping to decarbonise the energy and transport sectors. GERC is placed under the G-ERA theme
Thermal Energy Accelerator (T-ERA)
To lead the development and integration of thermal (heating and cooling) energy technologies and the global cold economy
Integrated Energy Systems Accelerator (I-ERA)
To deliver integrated energy solutions addressing major energy use markets, buildings and transport, through manufacturing
You can find out more information about ERA, including its objective and outputs, on the ERA website