Experts on energy policy at Sussex University have signed up to assist the work of a brand-new research and innovation centre aiming to support factories and other high pollution plants to adopt cleaner technology.
It is believed that up to 11 people will be involved on this issue, including Professor Benjamin Sovacool, who will take up the position of organisation co-director.
With the use of a £20 million grant from the government’s UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) department given to the Industrial Decarbonisation Research and Innovation Centre (IDRIC), Professor Sovacool will be tasked with heading up crucial research topics that will allow the government to investigate possible ways to cut greenhouse gas production, eliminate carbon and assist in the ongoing roadmap to revolutionising energy.
The new facility will work hands on with key industrial sectors to identify the challenges they face and resolve them through current and developing decarbonisation strategies that could be game-changing for the wider industry.
The IDRIC will also work as part of the initiative to create the world’s first net-zero industrial emissions cluster by the year 2040 and create four low carbon clusters by the year 2030.
Professor Sovacool, Professor of Energy Policy at the Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU) within the University of Sussex Business School and Director of the Sussex Energy Group said: “Decarbonizing industry is absolutely central to limiting the impact of climate change but there are no simple solutions, it is one of the hardest energy policy nuts to crack.
“This new interdisciplinary centre will be key to addressing that critical challenge with an ambitious vision to become a leading research program that is truly one of the best in the world but one that is also instrumental in aiding industry to take the steps necessary towards a Net Zero future.”
IDRIC is part of the Industrial Decarbonisation Challenge, delivered through the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF) by UKRI, and part of the commitments set out by the Prime Minister’s 10 point plan for a green revolution.
The centre’s funding is part of a wider £166.5m government investment into accelerating Britain’s climate change ambitions, creating over 60,000 jobs and designed to put the UK at the forefront of green technologies of the future.
Photo Credit: Sussex University
