Understanding the impacts and opportunities of net zero energy systems for households, communities, wider society, and the for economy as a whole is crucial to ensure a fair and timely energy transition. This is especially important in light of recent high energy prices and volatile fossil fuel markets.
Our research in this area will look into how new energy tariffs affect different groups, including how to support the most vulnerable and promote using energy at the cheapest times; evaluate learning from place-based net zero energy projects, and assess how relationships between communities, people and local organisations shape the success of neighbourhood decarbonisation programmes; engage communities in understanding and managing local conflicts over heat decarbonisation.
Future research may aim to expand our understanding of the economic and jobs impacts of energy decarbonisation and further explore how to resolve conflicts as we transition to cleaner energy systems.
This scoping review helps to refine the understanding of this policy landscape through examining how place-based and related approaches to building and heat decarbonisation have been employed in both government policy and non-governmental organisation (NGO) literature in Great Britain from 2010 to 2026.
This Policy Brief examines whether rising block electricity tariffs can function as a cost neutral, progressive form of social tariff in Great Britain. It highlights significant risks for vulnerable households if such tariffs are not carefully designed.
This policy brief suggests a consumption tax approach is likely to be less regressive and less damaging to the economy than levies on energy bills.
Existing research has over-focused on negative community responses to Overhead High Voltage Power...
The UK Energy Research Centre welcomes today’s announcements laid out by Energy Secretary Ed...
In this blog UKERC revisits options for breaking the link between gas and electricity prices in the...