The Energy Systems Accelerator pilot, known as Mini TESA, has brought together academic and industry researchers in a multi-disciplinary hub that focuses on the transition to low carbon energy solutions.
OxLEP and The University of Oxford’s Zero Institute have today announced the success of The Energy Systems Accelerator pilot (Mini TESA), creating a total of 115 jobs for the county to-date, far exceeding a projected target of 102 jobs by the end of March 2025.
OxLEP secured £600,000 of funding towards the £800,000 project through the government’s Getting Building Fund, to convert an existing building into the new co-working space, which can host up to 100 workstations, as well as being home to an ideas-exchange hub where different disciplines and organisations can develop radical thinking.
Alongside far exceeding its jobs targets, the centre has also stimulated new thinking, activities and powerful collaboration – working to drive innovation in low carbon technologies and facilitating industry and academic collaboration across all energy sectors.
The University of Oxford’s MSc in Energy Systems is taught at the centre in open, adaptable learning spaces – right across the hall from one of the country’s most prestigious energy research labs. Mini TESA is home to The ZERO Institute, accelerating multidisciplinary research on the zero-carbon transition, and to the Energy and Environmental Informatics and Energy and Power research groups. The facility also hosts large-scale ‘SPRINTS’, bringing together many stakeholders from different disciplines to problem-solve key issues surrounding energy transition.
Now that the pilot has proved to be successful and once further funding is secured, the team are working to grow the project towards a ‘full’ TESA, significantly scaling up the space where stakeholders and academics can work and interact, maximising creativity and accelerating the Energy Transition.
Nigel Tipple, Chief Executive of OxLEP, said: “We’re thrilled to see this project not only achieve its targets early – but continually go from strength-to-strength in terms of the collaboration and innovation it facilitates, which is set to have a vast impact on the drive towards a zero-carbon future.
“The centre is a great example of the hugely significant research being done in the county, leveraging the research coming out of its world-leading universities, drawing on academics and industry experts to challenge the anticipated path of the global climate emergency.
“This is just one example of how Oxfordshire – with the right levels of investment – can utilise its reputation as an extensive research and development leader to champion these priority technologies on the path to net-zero.”
Paul Shearing, Professor of Sustainable Energy Engineering and Director of The ZERO Institute, said: “Mini-TESA is a unique environment within the University, bringing together stakeholders from academia, industry, government and community groups, all with a laser focus on accelerating zero carbon energy systems.
“It is this multi-disciplinarity that will ensure we achieve a just, global energy transition, and mini-TESA provides the platform and the focal point for our activities, cementing the university’s and the region’s reputation as a centre for global thought leaderships.”
OxLEP’s £8.4 million-worth Getting Building Fund programme has ensured the creation of 640 new jobs in county by 2025, safeguarding a further 290 in the county. Secured from government in August 2020, these investments were used to give Oxfordshire businesses and communities a boost following the Covid-19 outbreak.
Since its launch in 2011, OxLEP has supported and monitored the completed Local Growth Fund and Getting Building Fund projects which overall have invested a total of £441.7m in Oxfordshire.
