High level of interest in renewable energy research
The Research Council’s Large-scale Programme Clean Energy for the Future (RENERGI) has received a total of 90 applications for funding, a significant number of which are for projects relating to next generation solar cell technology. The final decision regarding which projects are to be granted funding will be announced on 10 December.
The 90 grant applications received extend across a wide range of projects in the field of renewable energy, with applicants representing recognised research institutions such as the SINTEF Group, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), the Institute for Energy Technology (IFE), the University of Oslo, the Norwegian Institute for Studies in Innovation, Research and Education (NIFU STEP), Statistics Norway (SSB), the Center for International Climate and Environmental Research – Oslo (CICERO), and Christian Michelsen Research (CMR) in Bergen. The projects proposed comprise pure research projects as well as Knowledge-building Projects with User Involvement (KMB).
The number of grant applications for 2010 is at the same level as in 2009, and the overall funding sought for the next five years will amount to close to NOK 900 million. The RENERGI programme will allocate approximately NOK 200-300 million to new projects this autumn (amount covers the entire duration of the projects). This includes funds to be awarded in connection with the proposals for User-driven Innovation Projects (BIP) submitted in October.
“Research activity in the field of renewable energy has stabilised at a high level. The establishment of eight Centres for Environment-friendly Energy Research (FME) has led to a significant increase in the research effort in this crucial field,” states Fridtjof Unander, Director of the Research Council’s Department for Energy and Petroleum Research.
- Published:
- 16.11.2010
- Last updated:
- 16.11.2010
