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Call for Expressions of Interest: Research on Public Acceptance of Electricity Network Infrastructure
1 week ago
The UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC) is inviting Expressions of Interest (EoIs) to conduct research on regional energy planning and heat decarbonisation.
The authors of the successful EoI will be invited to co-create, along with UKERC’s Director and research theme leaders, the details of a research proposal that would form part of UKERC’s research programme on Affordability, Justice and Economic Impacts, and will work closely with programmes focused on Delivering Energy Infrastructure and Operating a Highly Renewable and Largely Electrified Energy System.
The co-created research, led by the authors of the selected EoI and conducted by their teams, should start no later than 30 March 2026, and should conclude by 30 June 2028. The maximum budget available for the research is £312,500 at 100% Full Economic Cost (FEC), i.e. £250,000 at 80% FEC.
The successful project should develop new understanding about how emerging Regional Energy Strategic Planning processes engage with heat decarbonisation. We anticipate research proposals will explore some or all of the following:
The call is open to researchers based at UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), Research Council Institutes, and UKRI-approved Independent Research Organisations. While non-eligible organisations (e.g. industry, NGOs, local authorities) cannot apply for funding, they are encouraged to participate as project partners.
Successful applicants will become full members of the UKERC consortium, with access to a national network of energy researchers and opportunities to contribute to UKERC events, outputs, and policy engagement.
We welcome Expressions of Interest from the week commencing 28 July 2025. The deadline for submission is 17:00 on 12 September 2025. Applications should address specified research questions, describe relevant team experience and EDI commitments, and outline intended impacts and project budget.
Download the full guidance document
Complete and submit your Expression of Interest using this form
Please submit this completed form to ukerc@imperial.ac.uk, according to the instructions specified in the relevant call document.
Please note: This is one of four calls for Expressions of Interest UKERC are being launched over the summer. Stay tuned for further opportunities to contribute to UKERC’s national research programme on the energy transition.