The University of Aberdeen is delighted to welcome the news that Aberdeen is in the running to bring a £1 billion energy centre to the Granite City. Bids from five outstanding university organisations have today (Monday, May 14) been short-listed to host the UK’s new Energy Technologies Institute (ETI).
Today's announcement by Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling, confirms that a consortium, which includes the University of Aberdeen, is on a shortlist of five to host the hub of the UK's proposed Energy Technologies Institute (ETI).
Professor Stephen Logan, Senior Vice Principal, University of Aberdeen, is fully supportive of the bid and welcomed the news. He said: "I am delighted at today's announcement that Scotland's bid has been short-listed as one of the potential locations to house the Energy Technologies Institute.
"This is an important time and signals the distinctive energy strengths the City and our enthusiasm we share within the consortium for hosting one of the most important energy initiatives in decades – one that will help us to underpin Aberdeen's future as a City of energy."
In his speech this morning on energy policy at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Alastair Darling said: "The Energy Technologies Institute is a unique venture. With a potential billion pound budget, it is bringing together government and some of the world's biggest companies and will help to establish the UK as one of the leaders in global clean energy development.
"The host will be the base for the Institute's Director and support staff and we anticipate it developing into a strategic focus for low carbon technology innovation in the UK and for international collaboration."
In 2006, the UK government declared its intention to create an Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) to achieve a step-change in energy research and development and make the UK an international leader in the field. While research under this initiative will be distributed throughout Britain, it is critical to the North of Scotland and to the welfare of the energy industries that the hub of the project be based in the energy Capital of Europe - Aberdeen.
The planned Energy Technologies Institute (ETI), which will be housed in a number of centres of excellence, will co-ordinate research and development work related to low-carbon and renewable-energy technologies. An all-Scotland bid to host the new centre has received backing from Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire councils, Scottish Enterprise Grampian, the University of Aberdeen and The Robert Gordon University.
Aberdeen City Council Corporate Director of Strategic Leadership, Abigail Tierney, said: "Aberdeen is eminently capable of accommodating the ETI hub in a position of suitable influence, right at the well-connected heart of the country's new energy powerhouse. This would confirm our position as the Energy Capital of Europe and as a World Energy City."
Professor Peter Robertson, Vice Principal of The Robert Gordon University, said: "It is excellent news that the Scottish bid has been short-listed for the hub of the ETI. The extensive and diverse expertise brought by the various institutions aligned with the Energy Technology Partnership demonstrates Scotland's international strength in the energy sector, hence the strength of this bid."
The ETI will have at its disposal significant funding to commission key energy research and development projects at selected centres of scientific excellence across the UK and overseas. It is intended to bring together the best scientists and engineers working in academic and industrial organisations, and to identify new energy projects capable of deployment within ten years.
Representatives of the funding organisations will now visit each of those short-listed and will make a final recommendation to the ETI Board by the early Autumn. There will be a range of opportunities for all high calibre research organisations to engage in the research activities of the ETI as the technical priorities begin to emerge.
Today's announcement has been widely welcomed. For more details, visit: