The EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Renewable Energy Northeast Universities Plus (ReNU⁺) is a transformative and inclusive programme that will train a new generation of Doctoral Carbon Champions (DCCs) who are characterised by scientific and engineering excellence and capable of interdisciplinary systemic thinking to accelerate Net Zero.

The outcome from ReNU⁺ will be that DCCs will meet critical needs in high-skill employment across industry, policy, education and government and convert key challenges in resilience and equity into economic opportunities for the United Kingdom. This will be achieved through a professionally accredited training programme in a thriving environment of research excellence led by Northumbria, Newcastle and Durham universities.

The ReNU⁺ training programme has a core focus on developing interdisciplinary skills that facilitate understanding of and engagement with the wider Net Zero system including investment, regulation and end-user engagement. It will become a reference for high-skill training in Net Zero that redefines the role of scientists and engineers as critical catalysts for decarbonisation who deliver impact well beyond technology. ReNU⁺ also recognises the critical importance of an inclusive and sustainable transition to Net Zero. To that objective, the programme will build more diverse cohorts of DCCs including people from under-represented groups and non-traditional educational backgrounds. For the first time, this gives rise to the concept of doctoral education as an enabler of social mobility.

ReNU⁺ will open in 2025 and run alongside ReNU, our other successful Centre for Doctoral Training, formed in 2019 between Northumbria, Durham and Newcastle Universities.