The New and Renewable Energy Centre in Northumberland is working towards a low carbon economy by assisting the development and growth of new energy technologies. NaREC offers testing and development of large wind turbine blades, marine renewables, offshore and subsea equipment, micro-renewables and high voltage electrical equipment.

Newcastle’s Sir Joseph Swan Institute for Energy Research is pursuing studies into renewable energy from land-based crops, and geothermal energy. Links have been built with Massey University in order to study biochar.

Strathclyde also has an Institute for Energy and Environment.

Loughborough is setting up a National Centre for Energy Research. The Midlands Consortium comprises the universities of Birmingham, Loughborough and Nottingham – three world-class partners, all with extensive and complementary energy-related research activities. Financial support has been provided by East Midlands Development Agency (EMDA) and Advantage West Midlands.

In New Zealand, NERI - the National Energy Research Institute (a collaboration of several organisations) - is beginning its work, with its CEO based in Auckland.