Innovate UK, the Government innovation agency, is planning to invest up to £9.5 million in innovations to address the need for a diverse mix of energy sources and systems over the next three decades and beyond.

The aim is to encourage cross-sector supply chains that can deliver integrated energy solutions at different scales. This is intended to help the UK meet the many energy systems challenges around achieving a low-carbon economy by 2050.

Technology transfer from other utility sectors, such as water and waste, is specifically referenced in terms of adaptability for proposed solutions, together with cross-sector innovation and the consideration of multiple sites with different geographical constraints/ opportunities.

This is a two-stage competition with a first stage of feasibility studies. Up to three projects will then be chosen for follow-on collaborative research and development (R&D). At each stage, projects must be led by a business.

Innovate UK expects total eligible costs for feasibility studies projects to be no more than £40,000. Feasibility studies are expected to last up to three months. Innovate UK is planning to commit up to £9 million for the collaborative R&D projects in the second stage. Each consortium must involve at least one SME.

The first stage of the competition (feasibility studies) opens on 5 January 2015. The deadline for registration is at noon on 11 February 2015.

The second stage (collaborative R&D) is by invitation and is expected to open on 7 September 2015.

A briefing event for potential applicants at the feasibility stage will be held in Birmingham on 15 January 2015.

Click here for more information and details of how to apply.