ICEPT undertakes a wide range of research activities related to market design, investment and policy. We have a particular interest in applying technological expertise and research on innovation systems to contemporary policy issues. Research interests include innovation theory; techno-economic and scenario analysis of low carbon energy futures; market design and regulatory reform; long run energy transitions and prices. 

ICEPT is actively involved in contemporary energy policy debates. For example hosting several workshops on the UK Energy Market Reform process. Our Working Paper series aims to provide timely input to policy development. The work of the Technology and Policy Assessment theme provides evidence based assessment in support of UK policy development.

Members of ICEPT are regularly consulted over ongoing policy analysis, by government and related bodies including the Carbon Trust, Ofgem, National Audit Office and Committee on Climate Change. During 2008, Dr Robert Gross acted as Special Advisor to the House of Lords Select Committee enquiry into the feasibility of the EU Renewable Energy Targets. ICEPT makes regular contributions to policy consultations.

ICEPT also undertakes directly commissioned research activity in support of policy development and insight. Recent examples include work on bio-energy potentials for DECC.

Visiting Professor Peter Pearson is the academic leader of  Transition pathways to a low carbon economy - a £2 million consortium project funded by EPSRC and EON (2008-2011). ICEPT has explored UK and international innovation systems for new and renewable energy technologies. For example, in 2008 Visiting Prof. Peter Pearson, Jamie Speirs,  Dr Tim Foxon, Visiting Professor Fred Steward carried out research on Measuring Eco-Innovation. ICEPT produced an innovation systems review for Australia’s Garnaut Climate Change Review,  Energy Technology Innovation: A Systems Perspective.

The late Professor Dennis Anderson made an extensive contribution to the Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change.

Projects

Current Projects:

• Transition pathways to a low carbon economy- a consortium project funded by EPSRC and EON, 2008-2011.  Prof Peter Pearson with Veli Koc and partners at the Universities of Bath, East Anglia, Imperial College (Prof Goran Strbac, Elec Eng. ) University  College London , Loughborough, Strathclyde and Surrey.

 A variety of ongoing PhD studies are exploring issues that include:

• Long run historical energy use, sustainable energy futures and the chemical sciences

• How is (radical) innovation in renewable energy technologies by entrepreneurs influenced by developments in public and private financial policies?  A case study of the State of California 1980-2005
• Whether and how Chinese firms involved in the fast-growing solar photovoltaic sector are developing technological capabilities that could enable them to keep on competing in the international markets and to move up the value-added ladder.

• Integrated air quality and climate policy in China

Recent projects:

• Measuring Eco-Innovation – An EU project, 2007-2008
  Peter Pearson, with Jamie Speirs, Tim Foxon, Fred Steward and European partners
• Energy Technology Innovation: A Systems Perspective, a paper for Australia's Garnaut Climate Change Review, 2007-2008  
  Tim Foxon, Rob Gross, Phil Heptonstall, Peter Pearson & Dennis Anderson                              
• ESRC Sustainable Technologies Programme Project  'Policy drivers and barriers for sustainable innovation', 2002-04: Project STP 106 
• Climate change economics and policy, in 2006 Professor Dennis Anderson was invited to contribute several background analytical review papers for the Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change, building on earlier work with the Tyndall Centre (click here for pdf).