UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC)

We are delighted to announce that we have received funding from EPSRC and ESRC: Economic and Social Research Council to continue our work from 2024-2029! UKERC’s research programme for 2024 to 2029 will address four critical, interlinked challenges: 1. The infrastructure delivery challenge: renewable energy, transmission networks and electric heat and transport requires unprecedented investment, innovation and societal acceptance. 2. The flexibility challenge: moving away from fossil fuels in cars, homes and industries means we need to find new ways to operate the energy system flexibly and reliably, whilst also integrating large amounts of wind and solar power. 3. The geopolitical challenge: addressing global energy security concerns and ensuring resilient supply chains. 4. The affordability and justice challenge: ensuring that the energy transition is fair, equitable, and accessible to all segments of society. Find out more below. UK Research and Innovation, Robert Gross, Dhara Vyas, Charlotte Deane, Doug Parr.

With rising energy costs, investing in energy retrofitting is increasingly important. In rental properties, landlords’ social relationships and place-specific factors affect retrofitting decisions. Read our new blog from Giulia Mininni, based on research from her, Donal Brown, Marie Claire Brisbois, Lucie Middlemiss, Mark Davis, Iain Cairns, Matthew Hannon, Ruth Bookbinder, PhD and Anne Owen.

Why are solar farms more efficient than residential and commercial rooftop solar? UKERC Director Robert Gross talked to The i paper to explain. ⬇️

Join us as we launch our flagship publication, the UKERC Review of Energy Policy 2024, in Cardiff on December 12 📅 The Review will span our research programme, to provide a holistic view of how the Labour Government can proceed towards system-wide change, followed by a special panel on the future of Wales’ energy transition. Featuring expert speakers such as Robert Gross, Nick Pidgeon, Ben Burggraaf, Jennifer Pride, Karen Henwood, Meysam Qadrdan, Dr Jessica Britton.

It's great to see more fantastic outputs from our Whole Systems Networking fund, which seeks to improve Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in energy research. We will be running the fund again in 2025 so stay tuned for more details.

Join us as we launch our flagship publication, the UKERC Review of Energy Policy 2024, in Cardiff on December 12 📅 The Review will span our research programme, to provide a holistic view of how the Labour Government can proceed towards system-wide change, followed by a special panel on the future of Wales’ energy transition. Featuring expert speakers such as Robert Gross, Nick Pidgeon, Ben Burggraaf, Jennifer Pride, Karen Henwood, Meysam Qadrdan, Dr Jessica Britton.

Make sure to watch our latest webinar! 📺 Energy geopolitics, once a tool of Western power, is resurfacing in a new era of climate change and US-China rivalry. This recent webinar explored how to reimagine this concept for today's world. Featuring Caroline Kuzemko, Gavin Bridge, Louis Fletcher and Marie Claire Brisbois.

In this week’s Newsletter: Recording of UKERC Webinar: Rethinking Energy Geopolitics Energy geopolitics, once a tool of Western power, is resurfacing in a new era of climate change and US-China rivalry. This recent webinar chaired by Caroline Kuzemko, and featuring Gavin Bridge, Louis Fletcher and Marie Claire Brisbois Brisbois explored how to reimagine this concept for today's world. Event report: Understanding Scotland’s Energy Transition Read this report from Mark Winskel and Inês Crespo from our recent UKERC/ ClimateXChange in Edinburgh in October, in which we brought together stakeholders from across the energy sector met to address energy policy and research priorities for Scotland. Mel MacRae, Robert Gross, Anne Marte Bergseng Painted with One Brush: Why We Need Diverse Approaches to Retrofit in the Private Rented Sector With rising energy costs, investing in energy retrofitting is increasingly important. In this blog, based on new research, Giulia Mininni the barriers to retrofit in the private rental sector. Plus as always a selection of jobs, funding and some exciting events for your diary: http://bit.ly/3YJdQvb

How low can we go? How can the UK achieve deep transport energy demand reductions while maintaining our quality of life? This blog from Christian Brand explores low energy demand pathways for reducing transport-related energy demand, with a detailed case study of the UK.

Policy and luck have bought Europe a reprieve from the high gas prices in the winters of 2022 and 2023, but this isn't guaranteed to continue. In Michael Bradshaw and Louis Fletcher's latest blog for The Conversation UK, they discuss how the UK, heavily reliant on gas for heating and electricity, is particularly vulnerable to price fluctuations and supply risks. With winter approaching, the potential for another gas crisis remains a concern.