Decarbonisation

Projects

Political Economy of UK Net Zero Energy

This project analyses the political economy of low emissions change in the UK across three stages.

Geopolitical Economy of Low Emissions Transition

This project examines three key, fast emerging geopolitical economies associated with transitioning...

Cross-Sector and Cross-Scale Coevolution and Interoperability

This project will investigate the evolution of flexible mobility demands over time, place and key...

Unlocking the Full Potential of Flexibility

This project aims to develop methods and tools to accurately quantify and harness the value of...

Decarbonisation of Dispersed Industrial Sites

This project will explore options for decarbonising industrial sites across the country.

Spatial Energy System Planning

This project focuses on Strategic Spatial Energy Planning and environmental information for energy...

Infrastructure Transformation: The First 10 Years of Net Zero

Net zero is an infrastructure challenge. In parallel with large scale societal, behavioural and...

Publications

Journal article

Clusters in Context: Towards a Typology of Industrial Decarbonisation Initiatives

This paper aims to bring clarity to an emerging field, highlighting the evolving landscape of industrial decarbonisation initiatives and the growing importance of clear definitions for effective communication and knowledge exchange among stakeholders.

18 March 2025

Journal article

Regulating Electricity Distribution Networks for Net Zero

This study analysed uncertainties around the uptake of low carbon technologies (LCTs) across the British electricity distribution networks and how they are being managed within the existing regulatory framework known as RIIO-ED2.

07 March 2025

Journal article

Assessing Electricity Network Capacity Requirements for Industrial Decarbonisation in Great Britain

This paper addresses the gap in knowledge around meeting increased industrial electricity demands by quantifying the requirements for additional electricity network capacity to support the decarbonisation of industrial sectors across Great Britain.

04 March 2025

Briefing paper

Electrifying Industry and Distribution Networks: Considerations for Policymakers

The policy brief calls on government to ensure that electricity networks are strengthened according to new demands, and anticipatory investment is enabled to support industrial decarbonisation. It also recommends that policymakers provide clarity on plans for industrial electrification, while strengthening data on future industrial electricity demand to create an accurate picture of future needs.

12 February 2025

Journal article

Rethinking retrofit: Relational insights for the design of residential energy efficiency policy

This research develops an alternative ‘relational’ framing to re-examine the assumptions surrounding the retrofit ‘customer journey’ and the accompanying policy framework. In doing so, the study draws on three United Kingdom (UK) case studies, exploring the customer journey of households self-funding renovations and retrofit through semi-structured interviews.

22 January 2025

Journal article

Towards a Relational Sociology of Retrofit

This journal article finds that the multiple stakeholders seeking to boost energy efficiency interventions in homes should focus less upon economic incentives for ‘rational actors’ and more upon reducing, facilitating and smoothing the ‘relational work’ needed to deliver retrofit.

21 November 2024

Briefing paper

Industrial Strategy and the Low Carbon Supply Chain Challenge

The paper recommends a long-term strategic approach to decarbonisation focussed on manufacturing and industrial transformation.

24 September 2024

Journal article

Under one roof: The social relations and relational work of energy retrofit for the occupants of multi-owned properties

This research underscores the significance of social relations in environmental retrofit projects, as well as suggesting a re-evaluation of policy frameworks to accommodate the social intricacies inherent in Multi-Owned Properties, thereby fostering a more conducive environment for achieving net zero targets.

22 July 2024

Journal article

Locally-led Governance of Residential Heat Transitions: Emerging Experience of and Lessons from the Dutch Approach

This article, published in the journal Energy Policy, examines the evolution of the local government-led process in the Netherlands for heat decarbonisation governance, drawing on documentary evidence and interviews with people connected to the Dutch residential heat transition.

05 June 2024

News

Article

Talking Energy: The UKERC Podcast – The Crunchy Decade for Energy Policy with Dhara Vyas

Check out the latest episode of the UK Energy Research Centre podcast with the new Energy UK CEO...

26 November 2024

Article

UKERC Director Robert Gross to join the 2030 Clean Power Mission as a Commissioner

We are delighted to announce that UKERC Director Robert Gross will be joining Chris Stark as one of...

10 October 2024