UK innovation support for energy demand reduction

Abstract

2While significant reductions in energy demand can be achieved by deploying existing technologies and management approaches, innovation can unlock further opportunities in the longer term. Research, development and demonstration plays a key role in enabling the development of innovative products and services. Energy efficiency has traditionally accounted for a low proportion of UK public sector energy research and development spend, although funders are now placing an increasing emphasis on the demand side. This paper addresses two questionswhat are the priority themes for demand-side research and how should research be conducted and supported in order to maximise the quality of its outputs? It draws on a series of expert workshops organised by the Research Councils UK Energy Strategy Fellowship during the development of its UK energy research and training needs prospectus. The following priority themes for UK energy demand research are identified: system-level and socio-technical perspectives on energy demand; energy use in non-domestic buildings; examination of how large-scale and incremental technological innovations could reduce energy demand. To develop these themes there is a need for interdisciplinary research, field trials, arrangements for data collection and sharing, and raising funding support to levels comparable to those for energy supply technologies.

Multi-stakeholder initiatives and decarbonization in the European food supply chain

“…As a result, revamping financial strategies to solve the current financial gap and to foster green energy sources is timely (Pianta and Lucchese, 2020). In this context, private players tend to modestly invest in research and development (R&D), thus public funds should be allocated to technology developments that contribute to decarbonization (Hannon and Skea, 2014).…”

Editorial: Progress in energy demand reduction – from here to 2050

“…In the final paper within this themed issue, Hannon and Skea (2014) draw on the findings of a series of 'expert' workshops organised by the RCUK Energy Strategy Fellowship (awarded to Skea), and held during the process of developing the Fellowship team's UK energy research and training needs prospectus (Skea et al, 2013). Priority themes and topics for energy demand research are identified in the household, commercial, industrial and transport sectors: in line with those in the simplified model of UK energy flows illustrated in Figure 1 (Hammond, 2000) and the corresponding electricity demand projections arising from the UK transition pathways depicted in Figures 2-4 (Barton et al, 2013a).…”

“…They note that the nondomestic sector is more heterogeneous (see also Dyer et al (2008) and similar remarks in relation to industrial energy demand and emissions reduction above) and consequently presents a more challenging area. Hannon and Skea (2014) underline the importance of incremental and radical technological innovation. They argue that there is a need to conduct research into opportunities for demand reductions achieved through large-scale energy initiatives, such as infrastructure change and spatial planning, to complement research into applications at smaller scales, such as building design or appliances.…”

“…Likewise, careful town planning can obviate the need to travel by locating new homes close to workplaces and essential services. In industry, Hannon and Skea (2014) assert that the development of lowenergy industrial processes (relying on novel manufacturing technologies, industrial catalysts and materials) depends on how they are configured and managed as part of an integrated, energy-efficient production chain. They argue that, in order to secure the desired reductions, there is a need for 'interdisciplinary research; field trials; arrangements for data collection, curation and sharing; and raising funding support to levels comparable with those for energy supply technologies'.…”

“…All this, the authors believe, could be facilitated by the establishment of more stringent data sharing policies and the support of infrastructure for data collection and curation. Finally, Hannon and Skea (2014) recommend that financial support for energy demand-side research should be brought into line with that for research on the supply side. Both approaches will play a key role in helping the UK to meet its climate change, energy security and economic goals, but have long been out of balance.…”