H2FC SUPERGEN Release Calls for HFC Research and White Paper on Low Carbon Heating

 Over the next four years the Hydrogen and Fuel Cells SUPERGEN Hub will be issuing a series of calls for research proposals to support its mission as the UK research Hub in hydrogen, and in fuel cells. Alongside this, the Hub will also be  producing four evidence based white papers aimed at informing key stakeholders, and especially policy makers, of the roles and potential benefits of hydrogen, and of fuel cell, technologies in the areas of, low carbon heating systems, low carbon energy systems, including the issue of intermittency with increased penetration of renewables, ensuring secure and affordable energy supplies for the future, future low carbon transport systems.

We are please to announce that the following have been issued:

Call for Research proposals on:  “Increased impact from UK Research Council supported hydrogen and/or fuel cell research”

Call for the delivery of a white paper: “The role of hydrogen, and of fuel cells, in providing affordable, secure low-carbon heat in future UK low carbon energy systems”.

Please don’t hesitate in contacting Dr Chloe Stockford and Professor Nigel Brandon for more information.

The calls are also shown below:

H2FC SUPERGEN: Call for Research Proposals: “Increased impact from UK Research Council supported hydrogen and/or fuel cell research”.

The Hydrogen and Fuel Cells SUPERGEN Hub (H2FC SUPERGEN), funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), is the first inclusive Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Research Hub in the UK, reaching across the whole Hydrogen and Fuel Cells research landscape. Further information on the Hub can be found at www.h2fcsupergen.com

Over the next four years the Hydrogen and Fuel Cells SUPERGEN Hub will be issuing a series of calls for research proposals to support its mission as the UK research Hub in hydrogen, and in fuel cells. This funding represents around 40% of the total Hub budget of £4.1M.

The H2FC SUPERGEN Hub is now issuing its first call for research proposals, addressing the topic “Increased impact from UK Research Council supported hydrogen and/or fuel cell research”.

The aim of this call is to provide support to researchers (eligible to receive EPSRC funding, see www.epsrc.ac.uk/SiteCollectionDocuments/FundingGuide.pdf for more details) to help them increase the impact of research that has been, or is currently, funded by the UK Research Councils.  This impact could be, for example, in the form of application of new tools and methods to industry problems, in seeking to solve an industry problem through the application of new materials or designs, or in the support of policy or regulatory development.  Involvement in the proposal, in-kind or otherwise, of partners in industry, in government, or other stakeholders benefiting from the impact, is expected.

Up to £100,000 of funding (at usual 80% EPSRC FEC rates) is available for each proposal, which must be complete by the end of the Hubs current funding, 30th April 2017. Proposals will be subject to peer review by members of the Hub’s Science Board.  A maximum of four proposals could be funded through this call.  The final award of the proposals will be the decision of the H2FC Hub Management and Advisory Boards, and we will announce successful proposals by end November 2013.

Proposals should be no more than 4 pages in length, and must include the following: a track record for the academics and researchers involved; a statement of why the work is important to advancing the hydrogen and/or fuel cell field; a description of the previous or current RCUK research on which the impact will be based;  a description of the work to be undertaken and the research methodology; a clear indication of the expected impact of the work and how this will be achieved, including a work plan; and a budget and a justification of resources.  Proposals should be submitted by email to Dr Chloe Stockford by 30th September 2013. Letters of support from project partners should be attached, and do not count towards the page limit.

H2FC SUPERGEN: Call for the delivery of a white paper: “The role of hydrogen, and of fuel cells, in providing affordable, secure low-carbon heat in future UK low carbon energy systems”. 

The Hydrogen and Fuel Cells SUPERGEN Hub (H2FC SUPERGEN), funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), is the first inclusive Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Research Hub in the UK, reaching across the whole Hydrogen and Fuel Cells research landscape. Further information on the Hub can be found at www.h2fcsupergen.com

Over the next four years the Hydrogen and Fuel Cells SUPERGEN Hub will be producing four evidence based white papers aimed at informing key stakeholders, and especially policy makers, of the roles and potential benefits of hydrogen, and of fuel cell, technologies in the areas of:

  • Low carbon heating systems
  • Low carbon energy systems, including the issue of intermittency with increased penetration of renewables
  • Ensuring secure and affordable energy supplies for the future
  • Future low carbon transport systems

The H2FC SUPERGEN Hub is now issuing a call for proposals to produce the first of these white papers, addressing the topic “The role of hydrogen, and of fuel cells, in providing affordable, secure low-carbon heat in future UK low carbon energy systems”.

Up to £100,000 of funding (at usual EPSRC 80% FEC rates) is available to support the preparation and delivery of the white paper, which must be complete by end May 2014. The proposal should clearly set out the track record of the investigators, and present the methodology through which the white paper will be delivered and disseminated. A justification of resources should be included, along with a project plan. The award of the proposal will be the decision of the H2FC Hub Management and Advisory Boards.  We intend to announce the successful proposal by 31st October 2013.

Other details follow, but interested parties are welcome to discuss their proposal with the Hub Director, Prof Nigel Brandon, prior to submission.

  • The white paper should review and synthesise the relevant evidence in the literature and should consider both UK and international experience
  • Proposals can include original research where appropriate but this should be justified
  •  Proposals should set out the proposed team’s track record, and a case for support which includes a description of the methodology and content, pathways to impact, as well as a clear statement of how stakeholders will be engaged in the preparation of the White Paper, and how research outputs will be disseminated. In addition a justification of resources is required. Key stakeholders include the SUPERGEN Hub Management Board and Advisory Board, who will provide guidance and commentary prior to commencement and during the project, as well as the wider industrial, academic and public sector in the UK
  • This report is expected to have significant impact and as such is expected to be accessible to a wide audience, not only experts in the field
  • The proposal should identify both the PI and the lead author who will be responsible for delivering the paper.  More than one academic institution may be involved in the proposal
  • A template will be provided by the H2FC SUPERGEN hub for the final report

The Track Record and Case for Support should together be no longer than 4 pages, and should include a description of the pathways to impact and a workplan. The justification of resources should be no longer than one page.  Proposals from interested parties (eligible to receive EPSRC funding, see http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/SiteCollectionDocuments/FundingGuide.pdf for more details) should be made to Prof Nigel Brandon and Dr Chloe Stockford by 30th September 2013.