UK government to examine energy research, development programs

By the OGJ Online Staff

LONDON, Oct. 12 -- The UK government has ordered a review of all energy research, development, and demonstration activities.

David King, the government's chief scientific adviser, will head the evaluation of the level of expenditures on energy related activities, how spending is targeted, and where the gaps are.

Commenting on the review, King said, "We need clean efficient energy for our industries, our houses, our work places, for transport, and for leisure. Science can provide the novel directions we need. More top scientists and technologists should be encouraged to develop and improve clean energy sources and find means of increasing the efficiency with which these sources are used.

"Research is essential to develop more efficient ways of using our existing energy sources and to identify new and clean energy sources for the future."

The conclusions of the review will be fed into the review that the government's Performance and Innovation Unit is conducting of UK energy policy.