Energy transitions

The following content has been tagged with the Energy transitions topic

Research Activities

Phase 3: Decision Making

Years Active: 2014-2019 Energy systems are complex, and their development is the outcome of...

Projects

Biomass as a Strategic Energy Store

This project will explore the potential for biomass to act as a strategic store of energy within...

Geopolitical Economy of Low Emissions Transition

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

Geopolitics of Fossil Fuel Phase Down

This research examines the geopolitical challenges and risks associated with the global phase-out...

Spatial Energy System Planning

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

Energy Security and Net Zero

This integrated project explores the critical issue of energy security in the context of a rapidly...

Infrastructure Transformation: The First 10 Years of Net Zero

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

Revenues from electricity balancing services

The low short-run cost of low carbon power and the high variability of power from renewables will...

Societal Preferences, Affordability & Trust

Who pays for energy transitions? Previous Cardiff research developed a model of the core values...

Macro-Economic Effects of Energy Transitions

Previous UKERC research lead to substantial advances in modelling, particualrly in helping to...

Representing disruption and continuity in energy models

This systematic evidence review forms part of the wider UKERC Phase 3 integrating project on...

Heat, Incumbency and Transformations

This project will investigate the social and political power of the incumbent heating industry,...

States & Markets in Low Carbon Transitions

The state’s role in nurturing innovation led growth is often understood through a...

Systemic participation and decision-making

This project is led by Jason Chilvers, and also involves Helen Pallett and Tom Hargreaves at the...

Publications

Research report

UKERC Transport Evidence Compendium

A comprehensive synthesis of two decades of UK energy and mobility research, providing evidence to inform strategic transport decarbonisation policy.

May 2025

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.

Mar 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.

Feb 2025

Working paper

Locational Signals in a Reformed National Market: A review of options

The working paper reviews a wide range of options that could be incorporated into a reformed national market and help the government make a well-informed decision on which market structure to take forward.

Jan 2025

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.

Sep 2024

Briefing paper

UK Gas Security: Managing Energy Security Challenges and Transition Risks

This briefing paper offers a comprehensive review of UK Gas Security, integrating the work of sixteen researchers from across UKERC and the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies.

Sep 2024

Working paper

The impacts of energy disruptions on society

The resilience of the energy system is changing, bringing new risks of disruptions, and our dependency on energy is higher than ever. But what happens in society when the power goes out? This Working Paper reviews the current state of knowledge.

Jan 2021

Working paper

Models of governance for energy infrastructure

This paper is an early output from the ‘Governance of Continuity and Change’ project within the Infrastructure Transitions research theme. It investigates the importance of governance for energy system change. It specifically looks at areas where the UK’s net zero targets imply significant infrastructure change or expansion, namely in industry and associated with buildings and transport.

Nov 2020

Consultation response

Ofgem RIIO-ED2 consultation response

In this response to Ofgem’s consultation on the methodology for setting the next electricity distribution price control, Keith Bell and Rob Gross highlight the challenges associated with innovation and the importance of good governance.

Oct 2020

Research report

Barriers and opportunities for heat decarbonisation in Northern Ireland

As part of the Whole Systems Networking Fund the "Zero-in on NI heat project", investigated the major barriers and opportunities towards heat decarbonisation in Northern Ireland. Four thematic workshops and a final seminar, as well as a series of focus groups with NI consumers, were conducted during the project. Over 120 stakeholders from almost 100 organisations attended the project workshops.

Jul 2020

News

Blog

Rethinking Energy Geopolitics

This extended blog argues that existing analyses of energy geopolitics are limited and proposes a...

11 Jul 2024

Article

Rosebank shows the UK’s offshore oil regulator no longer serves the public good

The UK's NSTA approved the Rosebank oil project, despite opposition from climate activists. As Gisa...

12 Oct 2023

Article

Wind turbines are already skyscraper-sized – is there any limit to how big they will get?

In 2023, the Dogger Bank Offshore wind farm in North-East England will start using the world's...

12 Jan 2023

Video: Rob Gross on TRT World

This week (December 16th) UKERC Director Rob Gross featured on a show called Round Table which was...

17 Dec 2020

Video

Video: Review of Energy Policy 2020

In December we launched our Review of Energy Policy 2020, which explores the impacts of COVID-19 on...

16 Dec 2020

Three new Landscapes at the EDC

In this blog, Catherine Jones and Jim Halliday introduce three new Landscapes documents focusing on...

16 Dec 2020

The Price of Power: Electricity markets in the Energy White Paper

UKERC Director Rob Gross responds to the UK government's long-awaited Energy White Paper.

16 Dec 2020

Response to the CCC 6th Carbon Budget by UKERC Director Rob Gross

UKERC Director Rob Gross responds to the Committee on Climate Change 6th Carbon Budget.

09 Dec 2020

Time is running out – the energy sector’s Generation 2050 speak up

With COP26 less than a year away, an intergenerational climate emergency requires intergenerational...

25 Nov 2020

Net-zero – A new international norm?

With Joe Biden as President-elect, who has committed to a 2050 target in the US, and a wave of...

18 Nov 2020

Where to find the most energy efficient homes in the UK

A recent study by NimbleFins has found that regions in the North have the most energy efficient...

18 Nov 2020

UKERC response to the 10 point climate plan

In this article UKERC Director Rob Gross and a number of Theme leaders, provide initial comments...

18 Nov 2020

Why we must decarbonise material manufacturing to decarbonise our buildings

In this blog Stephen Allen, from the UKERC Industry Theme, discusses how the manufacturing of key...

11 Nov 2020

Multiple supplier models show promise for driving the growth of local energy

Recent studies suggest that allowing consumers to ‘add on’ local energy to their current tariff...

04 Nov 2020

Integrating renewables into electricity systems

What are the costs and impacts of integrating variable renewable energy into the grid? In a Nature...

02 Nov 2020

Theme interview: Energy and Economy

As part of our Annual Assembly, we opted for interviews as opposed to Theme presentations. This...

28 Oct 2020

Interview: Mobility

As part of our Annual Assembly, we opted for interviews as opposed to Theme presentations. This...

21 Oct 2020

Driving down emissions for low carbon public transport

In this blog, Kathryn Logan, Astley Hastings, and John D. Nelson discuss, how low emission public...

14 Oct 2020

Interview: Energy in a global context

As part of our Annual Assembly, we opted for interviews as opposed to Theme presentations. This...

07 Oct 2020

Committee launch Decarbonising heat in homes inquiry

The Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Committee has launched an inquiry examining the...

07 Oct 2020

Green Homes Grant polling: policy implications of a predicted surge in demand

In this blog, originally for The Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit, Analyst Jess Ralston discusses...

30 Sep 2020

New research investigating challenges to floating wind expansion

Offshore wind will be key for many governments to meet their carbon targets. In this article Ben...

24 Sep 2020

Why nuclear power will (and won’t) stop climate change

Dr. Ellen Webborn asks do we need nuclear power? How does it compare with renewables? This blog...

16 Sep 2020

Four scenarios for the future of global energy

In this blog, UKERC’s Mike Bradshaw updates four scenarios first published in Nature in 2019, to...

16 Sep 2020

Nuclear energy: An outlook on radioactive waste management

In this blog, Brendan Comyn draws on an industry placement at a nuclear power plant. He discusses...

10 Sep 2020

Energy transition or energy revolution?

The concept of an ‘energy revolution’ has become a prominent way of thinking about energy...

02 Sep 2020

A just and inclusive energy transition – what can local authorities do to ensure more people are involved?

In this blog, Sioned Haf and Rosie Robinson discuss the importance of citizen involvement with the...

19 Aug 2020

Low carbon heating can improve living standards of financially challenged households

In this blog, Jack Flower, Graeme Hawker, Keith Bell examine the potential impact on the costs of...

12 Aug 2020

Lockdown lifestyle: does working from home reduce carbon emissions?

In this blog, Francisco Dominguez discusses lockdown, and the impact of working from home on...

29 Jul 2020

UKERC Director on BBC Points West

UKERC Director Dr. Rob Gross made an appearance on BBC Points West on Friday, July 17th. He was...

29 Jul 2020

COVID-19 and Energy System Transformation – the future in fast forward? Or old habits die hard?

In this blog, originally for the Academy of Social Sciences, UKERC's Professor Michael Bradshaw and...

29 Jul 2020

How the energy transition can drive the economic recovery

This blog discusses the recently published report by Energy UK, in collaboration with PwC,...

25 Jun 2020

Cooking up a storm? What will it take to decarbonise UK’s heat for low-carbon cooking

In this blog, Rihab Khalid explores how sociodemographic factors and consumer behaviour –

24 Jun 2020

A New Green Shovel? Options for the transport stimulus package

As we begin the difficult transition out of lockdown, attention is turning to what kind of stimulus...

17 Jun 2020

Making local authority energy ambition a reality

In this blog Mags Tingey and Jan Webb highlight how supportive policies will be necessary for local...

17 Jun 2020