ENG53 ThinErgy

Background

The global market for low-carbon goods and services is projected to grow from £3.5 trillion in 2008 to just under £4.5 trillion by 2015.[1] This multi-technology market growth is driven by EU targets for the use of renewable energy and energy efficient devices with significant implications in increasing the supply of advanced materials and technologies. A resource-efficient industry will be necessary and a review of the whole chain of energy generation, distribution and storage will be required to find new ways and technologies to avoid losses along the whole value chain. Competition is extremely tough. Europe’s strengths lie in innovation and quality implying a significant role for the metrology community.

Need for the project

A single technology will not be sufficient to ensure Europe’s shift to a low carbon economy. This requires a wide range of technologies, including power electronics, solid state lighting, solar energy and energy efficient windows. All these applications are based on complex thin films and therefore share common technical challenges in respect to performance, durability and cost-effective manufacturing that require innovative metrology and modelling to enhance device functionalities and improve competitiveness. The complexity of these thin films requires a coordinated multi-method approach that cannot be achieved by a single institution alone. Countries that develop the know-how to characterise and model such materials and technologies improve competitiveness and ensure leadership in this area. This JRP will take an innovative and ambitious approach of developing a multi-faceted metrology framework to ensure an energy efficient Europe and to extend Europe’s leadership in energy technology and innovation.