Since 2014 the Consumer Data Research Centre based at University College London and the Universities of Liverpool and Oxford (CDRC-ULO) has been a leading international centre for the acquisition, analysis and provisioning of consumer and business data to the UK research community. As of September 2021, we have supported 27,494 users through our public data portals and Trusted Research Environments (TREs), with usage growth of 104% (121% for Controlled/Safeguarded data and 87% for Open data) over the preceding 12 months. We aim to sustain this performance during ESRC's planned transition to the DigitalFootprints Data Service. The CDRC-ULO service delivers against ESRC's national priorities and needs for the social sciences by facilitating unique and cutting-edge research. As of September 2021 CDRC-ULO data have been cited in 203 peer reviewed academic papers. It also sustains an infrastructure that has nationally significant social and economic impact. Indicative examples include: provision of data integral to Transport for London's "Healthy Streets 2021/2" planning that supports £2.1 billion of infrastructure investment to encourage more active, efficient and sustainable travel modes; use of the Ethnicity Estimator tool (ee.cdrc.ac.uk) developed in partnership with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) by Public Health Wales to examine ethnic variations in outcomes for patients hospitalised in the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic; emergency provision of current small area ethnicity estimates to the UK Government Joint Biosecurity Centre's (JBC) pandemic response; and participation with ONS/JBC/ADRUK in the "Local Data Spaces" initiative to deliver and evaluate the UK Covid-19 "mass testing" exercise and subsequent opening up of society and the economy (winner of a 2021 ONS Research Excellence award). Such cases demonstrate fulfilment of CDRC-ULOs objective of enabling the user of consumer / business data to develop the quality, quantity and impact of social science research and anticipates the value of the prospective DigitalFootprint data service. CDRC-ULO continues to build on such successes with the mission: (a) to sustain international leadership in the identification, acquisition and preparation of strategic consumer / business data assets; making these findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable (FAIR) for innovative thematic research; (b) to enable best use of strategically important data that are developed using cutting edge research supported as appropriate by Trusted Research Environments (TREs) and digital platforms; (c) to build data skills capacity through training and successful research applications using consumer data, consistent with UKRI and wider UK Innovation / National Data Strategies; and (d) to ensure responsible (lawful, secure, fair and ethical) use of consumer / business data. These infrastructural, service, capacity building and ethical functions underpin our ongoing commitments to innovation and service delivery in the context of the Digital Footprints prototype initiative. CDRC-ULO is funded by the ESRC to deliver a comprehensive and internationally leading data service to external users. To maximise its role as core UK social science infrastructure, CDRC-ULO has pursued increased harmonisation of data acquisition and asset use with other ESRC centres (specifically UBDC and CDRC-Leeds) and has worked with NCRM on training provision. CDRC-ULO continues to innovate in data service provision, development and enhancement, while also supporting the immediate objectives of the DigitalFootprints Prototype.

The UK is committed to a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% before 2050. With over 40% of fossil fuels used for low temperature heating and 16% of electricity used for cooling these are key areas that must be addressed. The vision of our interdisciplinary centre is to develop a portfolio of technologies that will deliver heat and cold cost-effectively and with such high efficiency as to enable the target to be met, and to create well planned and robust Business, Infrastructure and Technology Roadmaps to implementation. Features of our approach to meeting the challenge are: a) Integration of economic, behavioural, policy and capability/skills factors together with the science/technology research to produce solutions that are technically excellent, compatible with and appealing to business, end-users, manufacturers and installers. b) Managing our research efforts in Delivery Temperature Work Packages (DTWPs) (freezing/cooling, space heating, process heat) so that exemplar study solutions will be applicable in more than one sector (e.g. Commercial/Residential, Commercial/Industrial). c) The sub-tasks (projects) of the DTWPs will be assigned to distinct phases: 1st Wave technologies or products will become operational in a 5-10 year timescale, 2nd Wave ideas and concepts for application in the longer term and an important part of the 2050 energy landscape. 1st Wave projects will lead to a demonstration or field trial with an end user and 2nd Wave projects will lead to a proof-of-concept (PoC) assessment. d) Being market and emission-target driven, research will focus on needs and high volume markets that offer large emission reduction potential to maximise impact. Phase 1 (near term) activities must promise high impact in terms of CO2 emissions reduction and technologies that have short turnaround times/high rates of churn will be prioritised. e) A major dissemination network that engages with core industry stakeholders, end users, contractors and SMEs in regular workshops and also works towards a Skills Capability Development Programme to identify the new skills needed by the installers and operators of the future. The SIRACH (Sustainable Innovation in Refrigeration Air Conditioning and Heating) Network will operate at national and international levels to maximise impact and findings will be included in teaching material aimed at the development of tomorrow's engineering professionals. f) To allow the balance and timing of projects to evolve as results are delivered/analysed and to maximise overall value for money and impact of the centre only 50% of requested resources are earmarked in advance. g) Each DTWP will generally involve the complete multidisciplinary team in screening different solutions, then pursuing one or two chosen options to realisation and test. Our consortium brings together four partners: Warwick, Loughborough, Ulster and London South Bank Universities with proven track records in electric and gas heat pumps, refrigeration technology, heat storage as well as policy / regulation, end-user behaviour and business modelling. Industrial, commercial, NGO and regulatory resources and advice will come from major stakeholders such as DECC, Energy Technologies Institute, National Grid, British Gas, Asda, Co-operative Group, Hewlett Packard, Institute of Refrigeration, Northern Ireland Housing Executive. An Advisory Board with representatives from Industry, Government, Commerce, and Energy Providers as well as international representation from centres of excellence in Germany, Italy and Australia will provide guidance. Collaboration (staff/student exchange, sharing of results etc.) with government-funded thermal energy centres in Germany (at Fraunhofer ISE), Italy (PoliMi, Milan) and Australia (CSIRO) clearly demonstrate the international relevance and importance of the topic and will enhance the effectiveness of the international effort to combat climate change.