Overview
Interests:
Economics of energy technologies, particularly low carbon options
Decarbonisation of electricity, heat and transport
Path dependence and evolutionary economics
Integration of renewable energy and the evolution of energy supply infrastructures towards low carbon, resilient energy systems
Methodologies for assessing cost reductions and the future development of emerging technologies, particularly low carbon and GHG mitigation technologies
lnnovation, policy and the environment
Evidence based policy and practice in the energy arena, focused on systematic evidence reviews
Research activities:
Director of UK Energy Research Centre since March 2020
Co-Director of UK Energy Research Centre since 2004
PI on EPSRC consortium Network Engineering and Public Acceptance (In low carbon heat - weblink pending)
Co-I on IDLES (Integrated development of a low carbon energy system)
Previous Co-I on Hubnet, the electricity networks supergen hub, PV21, the photovoltaice supergen hub
Previous research activities have included energy/low carbon scenarios, techno-economic assessment of low carbon energy sources and systems, work on learning curves and other techniques to assess future technology prospects. I have a particular focus on understanding innovation systems and applying these to policy developments. My main areas of technological expertise are in wind and wave power, integration of renewable energy into electricity networks, tidal stream energy. However I also have interests in low carbon transport, carbon capture and storage and in conventional (fossil fuel) electricity technologies.
Research and consultancy funders include: Lloyd's of London, SSE Plc, European Climate Foundation, WWF, BP Plc, BEIS, Committee on Climate Change and other government departments, Carbon Trust, EPSRC, ESRC.
Collaborators
Dr Nick Eyre, University of Oxford, UKERC, 2004 - 2014
Professor Paul Ekins, University College London, UKERC, 2004 - 2014
Prof Nick Jenkins, University of Cardiff, UKERC, 2004 - 2014
Dr Mark Winskel, University of Edinburgh, UKERC, 2004 - 2014
Professor Catherine Mitchell, University of Exeter, UKERC, 2004 - 2014
Dr Steve Sorrell, University of Sussex, UKERC, 2004 - 2014
Guest Lectures
The affordability of the UK's carbon and renewable energy targets, UK Energy Research Centre, UKERC Annual Assembly, University of Warwick, 2013
The need to 'pick winners': the importance of targetted renewable energy policy, WWF Europe, Brussels, 2013
Will the Energy Bill Work?, University of Leeds, Centre for Climate Change Economics and Policy, Visiting Seminar Series, University of Leeds, 2013
Wind power myths and misconceptions, Scottish Renewables Annual Conference, Edinburgh Conference Centre, 2013
Progress in renewable energy, Westminister Energy and Transport Forum, 2013
On picking winners: the need for targetted support for renewable energy, Parliamentary renewable and sustainable energy group (PRASEG), House of Commons, 2012
Will electricity market reform work and why does it have to be so complicated?, Sir Joseph Swann Memorial Lecture, University of Newcastle, 2012
Will EMR Work?, BIEE Annual Conference, BIS, 1 Victoria Street, London, 2011
The UKERC flagship project on uncertainty in energy systems, Westminister Energy Forum, Redburn Partners, London, 2011
Markets for Innovation: The role of deployment policies in driving cost reduction, Westminster Energy Forum, Westminster, 2011
The energy capacity needed in the UK and the timeframe for action, Getting Connected: Planning and Grid Access for New Energy Infrastructure, Bircham Dyson Bell, 50 Broadway, SW1H 0BL, 2010
Research Staff
MacCarthy,R
Mawhood,B
Research Student Supervision
COLLINS,CHRISTOPHER
Candelise,C
Hughes,N
Huhges,N