UK Carbon Capture Storage Research Centre (UKCCSRC) Flexible Fund Opens for Applications

Funding from the EPSRC UKCCSRC to support CCS research projects that contribute to the UK Government’s net-zero objectives.

The UK Carbon Capture Storage Research Centre (UKCCSRC) is supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) through the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Energy Theme.

UKCCSRC operates a flexible fund to support CCS research projects that contribute to the UK Government’s net-zero objectives. Examples of areas that can be addressed include but are not limited to the following:

  • Supporting the Government’s net-zero objectives.
  • Research linked to the priorities identified in the UKCCSRC industry and policy led ‘what are our research needs’ workshops.
  • Areas of research outside of the scope of the Industrial Decarbonisation Research and Innovation Centre, IDRIC.
  • Seed funding for a piece of work that could lead to responsive mode applications.
  • Work that can be used (eg a feasibility study) to establish a principle/understand the challenges for a larger bid to other sources of CCS funding later (noting that bid preparation itself cannot be funded).

Members of all organisations eligible to receive EPSRC funding may participate in proposals. Individual investigators must also meet EPSRC funding requirements.

All proposals must have a UKCCSRC academic member as the Principal Investigator (further information is available at UKCCSRC’s membership requirements section). Individual UKCCSRC members can be PI in no more than one proposal. UKCCSRC ECR members are also eligible to apply.

A total of £350,000 is available. This can be used to support projects of the following fixed budget amounts:

  • £10,000 (100% full Economic Cost (fEC)) for small projects that could lead to bigger funding, including collaborative work.
  • £30,000 (100% fEC) for proposals with no additional funding.
  • £50,000 (100% fEC) for proposals that can obtain 20% (£10,000) additional cash funding.

Research organisations will be paid at 80% of fEC.

It is envisaged that £50,000-£100,000 will be allocated to projects with a value of £10,000.

Additionally, £100,000 is ringfenced for Early Career Researcher (ECR) applicants (those still eligible for the EPSRC New Investigators Award).

Grants will be expected to last between three and nine months. Projects should start no later than 1 October 2023 and finish no later than 30 June 2024.

Applications should be submitted by the 15 June 2023 (13:00 BST) deadline.