Presentation by Ed Brown, Loughborough University, Smart Villages Technology Workshop, Cambridge 14 January 2014 The purpose of the workshop was to bring together leading UK researchers to discuss emerging technologies for the sustainable production and use of energy in rural communities in developing countries, and to take a ‘look ahead’ at scientific developments and technologies that might be influential over the next 10 - 20 years. It was held under the auspices of the ‘smart villages’ initiative, a three - year project to advance sustain able energy provision for development in off - grid villages in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

1. ‘The LCEDN: The First Two Years
Ed Brown, LCEDN National Co-Coordinator
Associate Director, Sustainability Research School,
Loughborough University
Cambridge Workshop 15 January 2014
New Technologies for off-grid villages – A look ahead
Image courtesy of Practical Action

2.  To act as a hub to bring together researchers, policy makers
and practitioners from across the UK with interests in low
carbon energy and international development.
 To actively promote innovative new forms of knowledge,
develop new methodologies to enhance transdisciplinary
working and to enhance research excellence in this field.
 To build a strong trans-disciplinary research community around
these issues in the UK.
 To more fully connect the UK academic community into the
global and regional networks working on these issues.
 To act as a repository and conduit for knowledge about these
issues in the UK and make it more accessible (within and
beyond academia)

3.  Recognition (RCUK, DECC, DFID) of low carbon transitions and energy
access issues as a critical arena for developing UK research capacity. This
is a result of 2 main drivers.
 First, the rapid explosion of global interest in low carbon energy and
energy access issues across the Global South (new markets, products,
funding) + growth of UK Government programmes in this area.
 Second, lack of connection between energy and development research
communities in the UK. The 2010 review of the RCUK Energy Programme
highlighted this issue as a significant weakness of UK research –
specifically that ‘energy technologies and development’ was an area of weak
performance and high interest.
Alongside this, a group of us had
already independently recognized the
need to establish a stronger trans-
disciplinary research community.
UKERC Event in May 2010.

4. • In May and July 2011, meetings held to bring together UK academic and
policy communities working in this field.
• Gave rise to the idea of the formation of a National UK Network
• LCEDN launched January 2012 funded by DECC for 15 months –
managed by Loughborough and Durham in partnership with Imperial, SPRU
and UKERC.
• Through our Management Committee and other routes we liaise closely
with DFiD, DECC, UKCDS, the UK Private Sector (via the Energy KTN) and
the UK NGO sector (through Practical Action on behalf of BOND)
• Continuing activity funded via different sources PLUS applying for EPSRC
funding for next phase of activity
Image courtesy of Practical Action

5. 1. Establishing a searchable directory of UK
research expertise (over 180 individuals now
listed)
1. Developing the LCEDN website as an innovative
web space for the development of this research
community (community blogs, ‘hot off the
press,’ events, fundings, news etc.)
+ Broader Social Media Presence: twitter etc .

8. 3. ‘State of the field’ reviews of the existing evidence base
and current energy/development research in the UK
including suggestions of strengths, weaknesses and
gaps.
How best to present this – Data Visualization (see new
section of our website)
4. ‘Rapid evidence reviews’ of specific technologies,
particular regions or emerging themes where there is a
current policy and research need.
Four completed and are being posted on the website –
discussing format for next phase (Practical Answers)
5. Stimulation of new postgraduate/training programmes
in this area and fomenting of active doctoral student
community.

9. 6. Running workshops, conferences and seminar
series to drive the network’s development and
facilitate real interaction with researchers and
other actors from the Global South

12. 7 . ‘lobbying for research funding’ – we have been
liaising with colleagues in DECC, DFiD and
EPSRC over how to promote joined-up research
funding in this area. How UK research funding
relates to other international funding etc.

15. Current Projects
 Facilitation of The LCEDN USES Network.
 Enterprise Fellowship: Danielle Gent (including secondment to
Energy Generation and Supply Knowledge Transfer Network and the
International Climate Fund team at DECC)
 LCEDN Phase Two Bid

16.  Annual Conference and Smaller targeted meetings
 Further work on research landscape and data
visualization
 Development of much more interactive web presence
and social media activity
 Specific programme with the PG research community
(alumni etc.)
 Further initiatives with UK private
sector/policymakers
 New approach towards Rapid Response Reviews
 Enhanced information repository role