UK: Statkraft and Grantham Research Institute announce three-year partnership on low-carbon economy research

The new programme of policy analysis will focus on the transition to the low-carbon economy and will contribute high quality independent analysis to support and inform the climate change and energy policy process within Europe. The Statkraft Policy Research Programme will extend over three years.

The Statkraft Policy Research Programme is an exciting new initiative to provide world class analysis and policy advice on key aspects of climate and energy policy, particularly in the European Union. The Programme will investigate key issues around the transition to low-carbon economic development and growth, including actions to implement the pledges submitted by countries ahead of the United Nations climate change summit in Paris in December 2015.

Statkraft is Europe’s largest supplier of renewable energy, and the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics and Political Science is one of the world’s leading centres for the study of the economics and policy of climate change and other environmental problems.

Professor Lord Stern of Brentford, the Chair of the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics and Political Science, said: "It is very exciting for us to have the support of Statkraft for our new programme of policy analysis which will focus on the transition to the low-carbon economy, particularly in the European Union. There are many important policy questions that require robust and rigorous examination, such as how to deliver the European Union’s commitment to reduce its annual emissions of greenhouse gases by 40 per cent by 2030, how to promote low-carbon innovation, how to integrate energy markets to help achieve climate goals, and how to develop of better and smarter European power grids."

Christian Rynning-Tonnesen, President and CEO of Statkraft said "I’m delighted that Statkraft is supporting important research at the internationally recognised Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment. Through the Statkraft Policy Research Programme we will contribute high quality independent analysis to support and inform the climate change and energy policy process within Europe."  

The Research Programme will extend over three years in the first instance beginning in January 2016. The funding will allow the Institute to create the new post of Statkraft Policy Analyst, who will work alongside researchers and other members of the Institute’s team. The partnership will be in line with the standard terms and conditions of the London School of Economics and Political Science which preserve academic freedom and independence.

Professor and Co-Director of the Institute, Sam Fankhauser, one of the world’s leading experts on climate change economics, said: "Statkraft is Europe’s largest supplier of renewable energy so we hope to gain an insight from it and other companies about how businesses view the current climate and energy policy landscape. We hope that our independent analysis will help to inform the decisions of Statkraft and other businesses, as well as local and national policy-makers."

The Programme is founded on the principle that good policy-making on energy and climate change should take account of rigorous and robust analysis of the best data and other information about both theory and practice.