The UK energy system is under increasing pressure and requires substantial upgrading and replacement to tackle the combined challenges of climate change (principally Carbon Dioxide emissions), energy affordability and security of supply. Addressing these challenges requires changes to the UK power generation, transmission and distribution systems and, critically, demands that we ensure that every unit of energy is used as efficiently as possible and forms part of a long-term sustainable system. We will only properly achieve this if all sectors are involved – Power, Heat, Transport and their supporting infrastructures.

In the UK the Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) has been set-up to accelerate the development of engineering solutions for affordable, reliable and clean energy systems for power, heat and transport.

This presentation will highlight the overriding issues and opportunities in achieving affordable delivery of low carbon, sustainable energy and will summarise the ETI Technology Strategy – focusing particularly on offshore renewables, carbon capture and storage, transport, distributed energy and energy networks. The drivers for widespread change will be covered along with some of the potential engineering solutions focusing on the critical aspects of affordability, the potential UK economic benefits and the associated need for skills development.

David Clarke joined the Energy Technologies Institute as Chief Executive Officer in January 2008 from his previous role as Head of Technology Strategy at Rolls-Royce plc.

Doors open for registration and coffee at 6pm. The meeting starts at 6.30pm and will be followed by a drinks reception at 8pm and an optional discussion dinner at 8.30pm.

Book by completing the online form and follow with payment online or by post. The meeting fee for R&D Society members is £20. For non-members and guests the meeting fee is £40. The dinner is an additional £45 on either meeting fee.