CurrentResearch:WholeSystemMissions

Delivering the transition to a net zero UK energy system that is secure, sustainable, affordable and inclusive to all UK consumers presents huge and multifaceted challenges. Tackling these challenges will require a whole systems approach and up-to-date evidence for decision-making at pace.

The Missions will support UKERC’s whole-system interdisciplinary research and keep it at the forefront of international developments in energy transformations across end-use, markets and policy. Cross-theme working is built into each of UKERC’s four core themes and is supported by a Research Integration Capacity. The Missions will further ensure that activities and outputs are joined up across the whole programme.

The Missions will provide capability, evidence and a convening role for exploration of three topics:

• Options for future energy market designs that could better support affordability, flexibility and investment in low carbon technologies and new fuels. The first mission is now exploring how the UK Government can rapidly reduce energy bills to protect households and public finances while supporting a fair, flexible and secure transition to net zero. This mission on bills will consider the full spectrum of bill components and how they may evolve in the coming years. It will assess a range of candidate reforms for reducing bills and aims to produce a suite of recommended actions to deliver substantially lower bills.
• ‘What works’ in low carbon heat and transport provision and policy; and
• Societal acceptance of infrastructure development (to be delivered by a new external partner).

Missions will be planned and taken forward in close collaboration with all UKERC themes and activities, stakeholders and external experts, and an Expert Group. Activities will include:

• Horizon scanning and gathering emerging international experience and research;
• Bringing together stakeholders and experts to stimulate discussion, generate new thinking and co-create solutions;
• Analysis and demonstration to generate impactful new evidence.

Findings and analysis from Missions-led work will be disseminated through a range of written outputs to make timely contributions to debate and decision-making.