Aberdeen’s renewable energy industry is set to benefit from a new Research Centre and Professorship in Energy Futures in a bid to position Aberdeen as the global energy capital.
The University of Aberdeen, The Robert Gordon University and Aberdeen City Council have signed a collaborative agreement to create the new Centre and together have contributed £700,000 for an initial three-year period.
The Energy Futures Research Centre and Professorship will significantly strengthen and complement the research capacity of the two universities in renewable energy technologies.
Aberdeen City Council is providing half of the funding from the Cities Growth Fund and both universities are contributing equally to the remainder of the funding and will be working together to secure external funding to ensure the long-term future of the Centre.
Councillor Kate Dean, Leader of Aberdeen City Council and AREG Board Member, said today’s announcement sent out a clear message of commitment to strengthen and expand Aberdeen’s position as energy capital of Europe.
“We are building on our excellent relationship with the two universities, utilising their expertise, to open up new, exciting opportunities in the renewable energy industry. This places us firmly at the forefront of world-wide research.”
Professor Albert Rodger, Vice Principal and Head of the College of Physical Sciences at the University of Aberdeen, welcomed the new initiative and said: “This is a strategically important collaborative venture which will bring a step change in Aberdeen’s renewable energy research capacity. By combining the resources of the two universities and working closely with industry we have the potential to develop a truly world-class Research Centre in Energy Futures at Aberdeen.”
Both universities have strong, but complementary research profiles with the energy industries, notably oil and gas. This initiative will build on existing renewable energy capacity in marine energy at the Robert Gordon University and bio-energy and wave expertise at the University of Aberdeen. Both universities have research into fuel cell technologies and excellent links with local industry.
Professor Jim Penman, Vice Principal for Research at The Robert Gordon University said: "This is an exciting and timely collaboration. RGU already has an international reputation in marine renewable energy systems, and this initiative will allow Aberdeen to widen further the research base and bring with it the capacity to provide solutions to the real problems facing this energy sector. It is a vital component of Aberdeen's future in the energy business."
The announcement comes as part of the wider campaign of energising Aberdeen which includes the formation of the Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group (AREG), a public-private company to promote renewable energy. The three partners in the Research Centre initiative are founder members of AREG and have helped shape its vision of bringing Aberdeen to the forefront of research in renewable energy and the future of energy supply and use.
The agreement is to develop this research capacity but is particularly targeted at appointing a new Professorship in Energy Futures who will be able to bring these research strengths together and build a critical mass of researchers to underpin the emerging renewable energy industry.
Iain Todd, the Cities recently appointed Renewable Energy Champion, said: “This announcement from Aberdeen’s two universities is great news for renewable energy in the city. This is a subject that is full of research opportunities, and the new chair and Research Centre will give Aberdeen a leading role not just in the UK but in the international scene.”