The Department of Energy and Climate Change, together with the Low Carbon Innovation Co-ordination Group, has published the UK’s Strategic Framework for Low Carbon Technologies.

Developed by the 17 member organisations of the Low Carbon Innovation Coordination Group, the Framework is intended to give greater clarity on where public support for low carbon technologies will be targeted. The new Framework sets out core low carbon innovation priorities to 2020 as well as the eleven key technologies that will benefit from public sector innovation worth £1billion to 2015, as follows:

• bioenergy
• buildings
• carbon capture and storage
• electricity networks
• energy storage
• heat
• hydrogen
• industrial sector
• marine
• nuclear
• offshore wind

The Low Carbon Innovation Co-ordination Group (LCICG) brings together the major public sector backed organisations that are supporting low carbon innovation in the UK and aims to maximise the impact of UK public sector funding for low carbon technology.

The Framework builds on the LCIG’s existing Technology Innovation Needs Assessments (TINAs) for each sector which analyse and quantify the impact of technology innovation for the eleven low carbon technology sectors. The Group has identified the key innovation needs in each of the sectors over the remainder of the decade, and assessed the scale of support required to address those needs.

The new Strategy provides insights into future innovation needs and a framework for future prioritisation. However, the LCIG’s analysis to date suggests that for the UK Government alone to support all of the innovation needs identified would require substantially more funding than is likely to be available. The LCIG said:

“ It is clear therefore that difficult choices will have to be made as we develop our future work programmes. The analysis and principles set out in this document will be influential in guiding those choices and the future investment decisions made by members of the Group.”

Marine renewables could deliver over 10% of UK electricity needs by 2050

The offshore marine renewables sector has already been identified as a key innovation technology by the Group.  The UK has a large natural resource of marine energy – energy from waves and from tidal streams. Successfully harnessing this energy has the potential to deliver over 10% of the UK’s forecast electricity needs in 2050.

However, current  estimates suggest that the cost of energy generated will need to reduce by 50-75% to around £100/MWh by around 2025 if marine energy is to compete with offshore wind and other technologies. The LCIG says this pathway is “ambitious but conceivable” and only possible with significant innovation. If successful, innovation in marine energy could save the energy system c.£3 - 8bn and help create a UK industry that could contribute an estimated £1 - 4bn to GDP up to 2050.

Energy storage will be “a real game-changer’ for UK

In a speech announcing the new Framework, Energy Minister Greg Barker MP flagged up energy storage as being set to play a revolutionary role in the UK’s future energy system and an area of low carbon innovation with the potential to be “a real game-changer.” He also announced the award of a contract by DECC has of over £8m to the partnership of Viridor Waste Management Limited and UK small enterprise Highview Power Storage liquid air energy storage demonstration project. Viridor’s parent company Pennon Group also owns South West Water.

Energy storage has been identified as one of the UK’s current eight ‘great technologies’ with world-leading research capabilities and the potential to support UK growth.

Energy storage can support the deployment of renewable heat and electricity generation, especially intermittent renewables such tidal and wave power. as well as electric vehicles and other low carbon technologies.

Overall, energy storage innovation has the potential to save the energy system over £4bn by 2050, and innovation could support the growth of a UK energy storage industry and contribute an estimated £11.5bn to UK GDP by 2050.

LCIG to strengthen means of helping innovators find support and funding

One of the LCIG’s key aims set out in the Framework is strengthening external communications to ensure innovators can find the right support – including the development of strong links between public-sector funders and organisations that will develop, fund or deploy innovative technologies. These include the large multinational companies which can make significant investments, but also the SMEs who are often the pioneers of innovation.

The LCICG members plan to work together to strengthen their communication activities with the aim of helping developers and investors understand government and industry priorities and the public and private-sector innovation support opportunities open to them

Briefing and Networking Event

The LCIG is hosting a Strategic Framework Briefing and Networking Event in London on 24th March to share and discuss the new Strategic Framework with key players in the UK low carbon technology innovation sector.

Delegates will hear how the major UK public-backed organisations supporting low carbon innovation plan to coordinate future support.

A Q&A session, where the speakers will be joined by decision-makers from among LCICG members, will provide the opportunity to explore these issues further. The event will close with a networking session, where delegates will be able to meet LCICG members, hear more about their activities, as well as meet other delegates from across the energy.

To register for the event, email the LCICG at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with your name, role and organisation. 

Click here to download Coordinating Low Carbon Technology Innovation Support - The LCICG’s Strategic Framework