Energy research is essential to support the development of a more sustainable energy policy. It ranges from the nurturing of new, cleaner production technologies based on different energy sources to the demonstration of innovative energy conservation techniques.

The challenge for energy research is to reconcile conflicting pressures. These are a growing energy demand and the need to reduce the environmental impact of energy production and use while, at the same time, seeking to improve:

• security and diversity of supply
• economic competitiveness, and
• social benefit.

The European Union (EU) is committed to realising a European Research Area (ERA) in Sustainable Energy Systems. In this context, the European Commission (EC) both develops Sustainable Energy Systems policy and implements the EU's multi-annual research Framework Programmes. Sustainable Energy Systems (SES) research addresses the EU policy objectives of achieving more sustainable energy systems and services. It is of great strategic importance to the EU in both the short and the longer term.