Chancellor Gordon Brown set up the ERP so that private and public funders of energy research can work together to identify a coherent national energy policy. It is chaired by the government’s Chief Scientist Sir David King and co-chaired by E.ON Chief Executive Paul Golby.

Ceres will work closely with key energy companies including BP, Shell, E.ON, ITI Energy, Scottish & Southern Electricity, BNFL, Alstom, Mitsui Babcock and National Grid, as well as public sector organisations including DEFRA, the DTI and the Carbon Trust.

The inclusion of Ceres reflects government interest in microgeneration projects to produce energy in the home, rather than in power stations. This approach is much more efficient, reducing valuable fossil fuel usage and carbon emissions, and simultaneously slashing energy bills for consumers.

Ceres is working with British Gas to develop microgeneration products that run off natural gas and other clean fuels. These produce hot water and heat like a conventional domestic boiler, but also create enough electricity to run numerous  home appliances.  Such “combined heat and power (CHP)” systems extract maximum energy from fuel, and directly address the UK’s current energy debate.

Ceres Chief Executive Peter Bance, who will represent Ceres in the ERP, said: “We are delighted that Ceres’ leading status in commercialising fuel cell technology has led to our inclusion in this important partnership. We see it as a clear indication that fuel cell products running on natural gas are positioned to make an early and exciting contribution to energy and environmental savings and are seen as a major solution by both government and industry.”

The key objectives of the ERP are to identify policy drivers, regulatory changes, emerging technologies and new R&D areas that could result in material contributions to the UK’s energy security, carbon emissions targets and sustainable economic growth.

In April, the government is expected to launch its “Microgeneration Strategy” identifying home microgeneration as a major technology suited to mass market up-take.

About Ceres Power

Ceres is a successful AIM-listed fuel cell business targeting a range of global market applications including on-site/back-up generators, residential combined heat and power, and auxiliary power units for transport.  Critically, the technology uses low-cost materials and existing mass-production techniques. And unlike many fuel cells, the Ceres cell can run on widely available fuels like LPG, propane and natural gas as well as on hydrogen.

The company received major recognition for its green credentials when it became the 2003 winner of the prestigious Carbon Trust Innovation Award.  More recently, Ceres secured the industry’s top accolade by winning the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining’s Gold Medal for 2005.

Since its formation in 2001, Ceres Power has raised over £25 million of funding through two rounds of private equity and its AIM IPO in November 2004.  The company has many blue chip City institutions as financial backers including Fidelity, Morley, Cazenove, and Jupiter.