Conversion and use of energy is the fundamental driver of many environmental problems, notably climate change. Future energy systems will need to be highly efficient and based on sustainable resources. The ECI’s energy research programme in the Lower Carbon Futures team focusses on the changes needed to deliver transitions to these systems. This will involve changes in technology, behaviour and practices, markets, policy and governance.
RESEARCH THEMES
Our work is organised into themes each led by a senior researcher, and with extensive collaboration across the programme.
Energy Systems and Governance
Focuses on major changes to whole energy systems, including the way they are organized and how decisions are made. Led by Nick Eyre.
Projects +Energy Demand Policy
Focuses on existing and potential policies to reduce energy demand, including work on equity and fuel poverty issues. Led by Tina Fawcett.
Projects +Energy Monitoring and Analytics
Focuses on developments in energy and environmental monitoring. Led by Russell Layberry.
Projects +Flexibility
Focuses on ways to balance supply and demand, including storage, demand response, networks and generation. Led by Philipp Grunewald.
Projects +Smart systems and everyday life
Focuses on human dimensions of energy systems, including human-technology interfaces, the relationship between everyday practices and energy use, decision-making, social learning and the role of ICT. Led by Sarah Darby.
Projects +Builders and Buildings
Focuses on the practices and processes of innovation in the construction industry, and its potential role in delivering and maintaining low-energy buildings. Led by Gavin Killip.
Projects +Energy, Organisations and Society
Focuses on the dual role of organisations as energy consumers and as providers of energy-consuming goods and services. Led by Kathryn Janda.
Projects +Transport and Mobility
Focuses on reduced energy consumption, behavioural change and socio-technical transitions towards low-carbon, clean and energy efficient transport systems. Led by Christian Brand across ECI/TSU.
Projects +Energy news
Research outputs
Strategic review of UK energy efficiency programmes finds savings of upto 10%
A new study co-authored by Dr Nick Eyre sheds light on what works, where the gaps are, and future priorities for researchers and policy makers.
- Jun 2015
Dr Sarah Darby reviews progress towards the planned roll-out of smart energy meters by 2020.
The report, led by Sarah Darby, was commissioned by DEFRA and gathered evidence from projects around the UK which looked into householder engagement with smart meters, evidence around changing behaviours and energy feedback among others.
- Mar 2015
Latest publications
- Eggimann, S., Truffer, B., Feldmann, U. and Maurer, M. (2018) Screening European market potentials for small modular wastewater treatment systems – an inroad to sustainability transitions in urban water management? Land Use Policy, 78: 711-725.
- Killip, G., Owen, A., Morgan, E. and Topouzi, M. (2018) A co-evolutionary approach to understanding construction industry innovation in renovation practices for low-carbon outcomes. The International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
- Neves, A. and Brand, C. (2018) Assessing the potential for carbon emissions savings from replacing short car trips with walking and cycling using a mixed GPS-travel diary approach. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice.
- Higginson, S., Topouzi, M., Andrade-Cabrera, C., O'Dwyer, C., Darby, S. and Finn, D. (2018) Achieving Data Synergy: The Socio-Technical Process of Handling Data. In, Foulds, C. and Robison, R. (eds.) Advancing Energy Policy. Palgrave Pivot, Cham.
- McCarthy, F., Bright, S. and Fawcett, T. (2018) Building Governance and Energy Efficiency: Mapping the Interdisciplinary Challenge. In, Foulds, C. and Robison, R. (eds.) Advancing Energy Policy. Palgrave Pivot, Cham.
- Liao, X. and Hall, J. (2018) Drivers of water use in China's electric power sector from 2000 to 2015. Environmental Research Letters.
