The International Energy Agency states that international technology collaboration must be strengthened considerably in order to accelerate energy research and development. Nordic Energy Research celebrated its 25th anniversary by launching a new collaborative research programme of 100 million NOK.
A Programme based on Experience and Future Perspectives
The research programme was launched at an anniversary conference at the Danish Design Centre in Copenhagen, where Nordic players in the energy sector came together to celebrate the results achieved by Nordic Energy Research, and to discuss future outlooks.
“I am delighted to launch the programme at our 25-year anniversary conference. Nordic Energy Research has successfully funded and coordinated Nordic research collaboration, which persistently delivers interesting results. This programme is based on a thorough analysis of our past accomplishments and future needs in facing the challenge of transforming our energy systems towards a more sustainable future,” says Nicolai Zarganis, Chairman of the Board of Nordic Energy Research.
The aim of the programme is to contribute to a transition towards a sustainable energy system before 2050, with focus on cross cutting research between three main areas, renewables, low-carbon transport and grids and markets.
Building networks has traditionally been an important aspect of Nordic Energy Research’s activities and will also be an integrated part of the ‘Sustainable Energy Systems 2050 programme’.
“We will fund two types of projects, those where only universities and research institutes receive funding, and those where participants from industry also receive financial support. In doing so, we hope to encourage cross-disciplinary research and effective deployment of new technologies, both significant issues if we want to be able to meet our objectives in 2050,” says Anne Cathrine Gjærde, Director of Nordic Energy Research.
Nordic Collaboration in a Global Context
Nicolai Zarganis stresses that a combination of national, Nordic and international research- and development efforts is needed to solve the energy issues at hand.
“For us, there is considerable value added in approaching the research at the Nordic level but a further international perspective is also appreciated in the programme,” Zarganis says.
He explains that the programme, with its 100 million NOK, is relatively small compared to the combined Nordic national R&D budgets. According to Zarganis, its importance lies in the cooperation across the Nordic borders.
“It is the fact that the programme facilitates true international technology collaboration that makes it exceptional. By binding the Nordic national research communities together we can achieve major synergies based on the five countries’ complementary strengths in the energy field,” Zarganis continues.
Energy Analyst Joana Chiavari represented the International Energy Agency (IEA) at the conference. She presented the IEA’s Energy Technology Perspectives 2010, which calls for a broader engagement in energy RD&D from the full range of countries, sectors and stakeholders. An area, where the Nordic collaboration can serve as an example.
“We are curious to deduct lessons and best practice examples from the Nordic collaboration and its institutional arrangement, for example on how the national institutes interact with each other and with the private sector. We have seen various interesting policy- and research initiatives in the Nordic countries, some of which are very promising, also with regards to global research, development and technology deployment,” says Chiavari.
strong>Interdisciplinary Research to meet common Energy Challenges
The intersections between renewables, low-carbon transport and grids and markets have been chosen as the programme’s main focus areas, as the Nordic countries face common or similar challenges in these fields. The value added from a Nordic point of view will therefore be considerable.
“All the Nordic countries need to develop more renewable energy solutions, we all face the same challenges regarding our transport systems and because of the interconnected energy systems in most of the Nordic countries, we are dependant of each other when it comes to making changes to those systems,” says Nicolai Zarganis.
At least three Nordic countries have to be represented, and all projects need to have Nordic relevance to be considered for funding. The quality of the research is of great importance and the projects should also have a system-oriented purpose, to fulfil the programmes ambitions. According to Anne Cathrine Gjærde, this is no easy task.
“Not only do we need new, innovative technologies, we need technologies that can be used within the current energy system while simultaneously paving the way for a transition to a sustainable energy system towards 2050. That is a very interesting challenge we are facing at the moment,” says Anne Cathrine Gjærde, Director of Nordic Energy Research.