Reframing Energy Demand: Innovation for Sustainable Heat
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Edinburgh
Department Name: Sch of Social and Political Science
Abstract
As part of the UK's response to the threat of climate change, the UK Government has set out a radical plan to end the emission of greenhouse gases from all buildings by 2050. Achieving this will mean confronting two longstanding and deeply embedded contributors to such emissions: the poor energy efficiency standards of many UK buildings and our dependence on fossil fuels for heating.
Despite the fact that almost half of the energy we use in the UK is for heating, the problems of how to make major reductions in demand, and to decarbonise supply to meet remaining needs, have received limited attention. In addition, the evidence is that more radical forms of energy efficiency and heat innovations are happening more slowly than has often been assumed. There are significant uncertainties about the best ways to increase the pace of change in relation to better insulation of buildings, energy sources, technologies and prices. There are also contentious questions about shares of costs and benefits. Our social science research will address these uncertainties and contribute new insights into innovation for energy efficient and sustainable heat in Europe.
Although the UK is not alone in confronting these challenges, UK patterns of energy efficiency and heating for buildings are significantly different from many other European countries, reflecting the UK's history of cheap and plentiful natural gas resources, and the low priority given to energy efficiency and the environmental impacts of fossil fuels. Other parts of Europe have different histories, and have established policies, technologies and businesses oriented to efficiency and low carbon supplies. There are opportunities for the UK to benefit from such experience. We will compare UK, Danish and German responses to concurrent economic and environmental challenges, and the role of cities in emerging solutions in each case. We will study particular cities in England, Scotland, Germany and Denmark to identify and analyse differences in energy performance of buildings, heating systems, and energy policy and market structures. Findings will be used to provide insight into feasible and effective ways forward for UK energy efficiency and sustainable heat policy.
Rather than narrow (and potentially misleading) technical and economic assessments, our research focuses on explaining the differences between societies in patterns of energy efficiency and demand for heating. We pay particular attention to urban settings, because this is where heat demand is concentrated and where many resources for innovation are located, but we also consider the interaction of city, national and European scales.
Our research aims are threefold:
First, to develop a new analysis of innovations in energy efficiency and sustainable heat by drawing on two related strands of social science research on innovation: social studies of the technical infrastructures and social studies of the markets which underpin energy demand and supply, and which structure the pace and shape of change.
Second, to develop detailed evidence about emerging innovations for energy efficiency and sustainable heat in selected UK and European cities, and to analyse the implications of these innovations for urban energy demand to 2050.
Third, to use our research to identify the potential, and means, for shared learning between European cities, in relation to energy efficiency and sustainable heat policy and practice. We will do this by working closely with UK and European policymakers, businesses and communities.
The research has been designed in interaction with policy-makers, urban authorities and energy practitioners, as well as senior researchers. We will engage across European policy and research networks, and with stakeholders in each city case study. We will disseminate our research through presentations to a wide variety of UK and international audiences with interest in the future of heating systems.
Despite the fact that almost half of the energy we use in the UK is for heating, the problems of how to make major reductions in demand, and to decarbonise supply to meet remaining needs, have received limited attention. In addition, the evidence is that more radical forms of energy efficiency and heat innovations are happening more slowly than has often been assumed. There are significant uncertainties about the best ways to increase the pace of change in relation to better insulation of buildings, energy sources, technologies and prices. There are also contentious questions about shares of costs and benefits. Our social science research will address these uncertainties and contribute new insights into innovation for energy efficient and sustainable heat in Europe.
Although the UK is not alone in confronting these challenges, UK patterns of energy efficiency and heating for buildings are significantly different from many other European countries, reflecting the UK's history of cheap and plentiful natural gas resources, and the low priority given to energy efficiency and the environmental impacts of fossil fuels. Other parts of Europe have different histories, and have established policies, technologies and businesses oriented to efficiency and low carbon supplies. There are opportunities for the UK to benefit from such experience. We will compare UK, Danish and German responses to concurrent economic and environmental challenges, and the role of cities in emerging solutions in each case. We will study particular cities in England, Scotland, Germany and Denmark to identify and analyse differences in energy performance of buildings, heating systems, and energy policy and market structures. Findings will be used to provide insight into feasible and effective ways forward for UK energy efficiency and sustainable heat policy.
Rather than narrow (and potentially misleading) technical and economic assessments, our research focuses on explaining the differences between societies in patterns of energy efficiency and demand for heating. We pay particular attention to urban settings, because this is where heat demand is concentrated and where many resources for innovation are located, but we also consider the interaction of city, national and European scales.
Our research aims are threefold:
First, to develop a new analysis of innovations in energy efficiency and sustainable heat by drawing on two related strands of social science research on innovation: social studies of the technical infrastructures and social studies of the markets which underpin energy demand and supply, and which structure the pace and shape of change.
Second, to develop detailed evidence about emerging innovations for energy efficiency and sustainable heat in selected UK and European cities, and to analyse the implications of these innovations for urban energy demand to 2050.
Third, to use our research to identify the potential, and means, for shared learning between European cities, in relation to energy efficiency and sustainable heat policy and practice. We will do this by working closely with UK and European policymakers, businesses and communities.
The research has been designed in interaction with policy-makers, urban authorities and energy practitioners, as well as senior researchers. We will engage across European policy and research networks, and with stakeholders in each city case study. We will disseminate our research through presentations to a wide variety of UK and international audiences with interest in the future of heating systems.
Planned Impact
1. Intended beneficiaries
Heating and energy services' suppliers; urban and regional authorities, Scottish, UK and EU policy-makers; energy-related knowledge exchange networks such as UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC) and Energy Technologies Institute (ETI); End Use Energy Demand Centres (EUED), particularly the Centre on Innovation and Energy Demand (CIED).
2. User engagement:
The project will be managed in collaboration with beneficiaries. In comparing energy efficiency and heat services, and innovation, in UK, Denmark and Germany, particularly through urban case studies, the research will have an impact on shared learning. We will seek to make constructive use of this through engagement with the EU IEE STRATEGO network, which has 23 learning regions/cities, and 8 experienced regions/cities. Meetings of our cross-sector Advisory Board will be used to identify additional knowledge exchange priorities. Engagement will contribute to:
a. comparative European scenarios for energy efficiency and decarbonisation of heat;
b. developing feasible business and financial models;
c. shared learning for best practice in governance of such innovation in urban settings;
d. evaluation of feasibility of different urban scale transition pathways.
3. What will be done to ensure that they have the opportunity to benefit?
The research has been devised in interaction with UK and Scottish policy-makers, urban authority officers and energy practitioners, as well as Co-Directors of CIED. Our cross sector Project Advisory Board, including CIED (Geels), will meet twice a year to provide feedback and support wider dissemination. We will provide evidence-based feedback, and opportunities for reflection on progress for policy-makers, at European network and sustainable heat project planning meetings, particularly in Birmingham and Glasgow, and via Scottish Cities Alliance and Government Heat Network Partnership, and IEE STRATEGO. We will make formal presentations of evidence to policy-making bodies - notably the UK DECC Heat Team and Scottish Heat Networks Partnership. We aim to present findings to additional European networks with responsibility for energy efficient and low carbon heat policy, via Scotland Europa and Euroheat and Power. Wider knowledge exchange will be addressed by engagement in End Use Energy Demand centre events, especially CIED, where we aim to collaborate with the Low Energy Innovation Studio. We will link with UKERC national energy scenario workshops. A final one day conference will bring together key urban authorities, policy-makers, businesses and researchers. In relation to other practitioner and public research users, we will produce short articles for social media using the University of Edinburgh Press Office, as well as our networks into industry associations and Scottish and UK parliaments. The project website will be used to disseminate findings via early access to working papers. We will send regular updates to the End Use Energy Demand Centres, and to newsletters from the Institute for the Study of Science, Technology and Innovation newsletter (ISSTI University of Edinburgh), European Economic Sociology and Sustainability Transitions Research Network, to reach a broad energy-related academic and user community. We will present evidence at meetings and inquiries organised by Parliamentary Committees and forums in Westminster and Edinburgh.
4. Capability
The project will draw on the international resources of the University of Edinburgh, including the Institute of Governance (IoG), Science, Technology and Innovation Studies, and the Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation which hosts the Government's Climate Policy Exchange. Interaction between this hub and the Institute for Energy Systems (Edinburgh College of Science and Engineering) is ensured by team membership. All team members work at the interface of research, policy and action, and bridge intersecting communities of interest.
Heating and energy services' suppliers; urban and regional authorities, Scottish, UK and EU policy-makers; energy-related knowledge exchange networks such as UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC) and Energy Technologies Institute (ETI); End Use Energy Demand Centres (EUED), particularly the Centre on Innovation and Energy Demand (CIED).
2. User engagement:
The project will be managed in collaboration with beneficiaries. In comparing energy efficiency and heat services, and innovation, in UK, Denmark and Germany, particularly through urban case studies, the research will have an impact on shared learning. We will seek to make constructive use of this through engagement with the EU IEE STRATEGO network, which has 23 learning regions/cities, and 8 experienced regions/cities. Meetings of our cross-sector Advisory Board will be used to identify additional knowledge exchange priorities. Engagement will contribute to:
a. comparative European scenarios for energy efficiency and decarbonisation of heat;
b. developing feasible business and financial models;
c. shared learning for best practice in governance of such innovation in urban settings;
d. evaluation of feasibility of different urban scale transition pathways.
3. What will be done to ensure that they have the opportunity to benefit?
The research has been devised in interaction with UK and Scottish policy-makers, urban authority officers and energy practitioners, as well as Co-Directors of CIED. Our cross sector Project Advisory Board, including CIED (Geels), will meet twice a year to provide feedback and support wider dissemination. We will provide evidence-based feedback, and opportunities for reflection on progress for policy-makers, at European network and sustainable heat project planning meetings, particularly in Birmingham and Glasgow, and via Scottish Cities Alliance and Government Heat Network Partnership, and IEE STRATEGO. We will make formal presentations of evidence to policy-making bodies - notably the UK DECC Heat Team and Scottish Heat Networks Partnership. We aim to present findings to additional European networks with responsibility for energy efficient and low carbon heat policy, via Scotland Europa and Euroheat and Power. Wider knowledge exchange will be addressed by engagement in End Use Energy Demand centre events, especially CIED, where we aim to collaborate with the Low Energy Innovation Studio. We will link with UKERC national energy scenario workshops. A final one day conference will bring together key urban authorities, policy-makers, businesses and researchers. In relation to other practitioner and public research users, we will produce short articles for social media using the University of Edinburgh Press Office, as well as our networks into industry associations and Scottish and UK parliaments. The project website will be used to disseminate findings via early access to working papers. We will send regular updates to the End Use Energy Demand Centres, and to newsletters from the Institute for the Study of Science, Technology and Innovation newsletter (ISSTI University of Edinburgh), European Economic Sociology and Sustainability Transitions Research Network, to reach a broad energy-related academic and user community. We will present evidence at meetings and inquiries organised by Parliamentary Committees and forums in Westminster and Edinburgh.
4. Capability
The project will draw on the international resources of the University of Edinburgh, including the Institute of Governance (IoG), Science, Technology and Innovation Studies, and the Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation which hosts the Government's Climate Policy Exchange. Interaction between this hub and the Institute for Energy Systems (Edinburgh College of Science and Engineering) is ensured by team membership. All team members work at the interface of research, policy and action, and bridge intersecting communities of interest.
Publications
Bolton R
(2019)
Ambiguous interventions: Capacity remuneration mechanisms and the politics of energy transition in Britain and Germany
in Energy Research & Social Science
Bolton R
(2016)
Investing in energy system flexibility - A risk or uncertainty?
Bolton R
(2016)
Governing sustainability transitions through business model innovation: Towards a systems understanding
in Research Policy
Cowell R
(2021)
Making useful knowledge for heat decarbonisation: Lessons from local energy planning in the United Kingdom
in Energy Research & Social Science
Hawkey D
(2017)
Case study: Climate Neutral building stock in Germany
| Description | 1. The 'problem' of low carbon heat and low energy buildings is framed in different ways in each of our comparator European states: Denmark, Germany and UK, depending on the 20th century history of building standards and heat provision and current co-evolution of policy and legacy energy network and building infrastructures. • Timing of construction and of increasing energy efficiency standards mean all three countries have significant potential across building stock to reduce final energy demand for heat. Construction standards in the UK have lagged European comparators but given the age of the stocks this is a relatively minor effect. All three countries have large proportion of buildings whose efficiency could be improved. • Distinctive energy governance institutions and regulations have co-evolved with particular heat supply infrastructures. For example, Danish energy taxes developed with the deployment of district heating (DH) from combined heat and power generation (CHP) and reflect a symbiotic relationship between central and municipal government; UK nationalised industries operated as autonomous corporations (with on-going controversy over the opportunity cost of their use of capital) with limited integration/coordination and exclusion of local government; German stadtwerke contributed both symbolically and financially to municipal self determination, and their resurrection resonates with these values. These differences, along with resource endowments, account for different socio-technical configurations of energy supply for heating, and distinctive future strategies for low carbon buildings, in the three countries. • Fuel poverty is defined as a specific object of policy only in the UK, and not in Denmark or Germany where low incomes and difficulty paying bills are dealt with through social transfers. The particularities of UK fuel poverty policy are partly a result of the formal separation between the privatised energy industry and democratic government. In addition, the UK fuel poverty policy focus has increasingly moved from energy price per se to measures for improved home energy efficiency as a means to reduce household bills. Hence Energy Company Obligation funding is increasingly targeted on those defined as fuel poor. • The low carbon heat option space in high level energy systems' scenarios differs between countries. In particular, Danish and German rejection of both nuclear and CCS lead to (a) a relatively narrow range of options for decarbonising heat for buildings (b) a stronger emphasis on energy efficiency than in the UK. In addition there is differentiation between UK countries: Scottish policy is opposed to new nuclear power, but conversion of the gas grid to hydrogen, using steam methane reforming with CCS, is regarded as an option. UK Government policy is pro-nuclear, but funding for CCS demonstration projects has been withdrawn. • Accelerating progress in urban low carbon and low energy heat infrastructure is proving difficult to effect in all three European states. The absence of a pressing infrastructural crisis, which worked historically to drive transformation, means that appetite for major overhaul [and the implied disruption to millions of building occupants and owners] is limited both in city and national governments. Denmark has retained institutional capacity for energy planning, but the focus is on incremental expansion of existing heat networks; Germany sees high potential in transforming energy inputs to DH networks, but there is disagreement about intensifying usage of the existing networks, as opposed to shifting to smaller scale community-owned heat systems; in the UK there are high levels of uncertainty about future heat and energy efficiency policies, and the role of technologies such as district heating. The absence of a governance structure for decisions about the future of the methane gas grid is significant in stalling other investment decisions. • Differences between future energy supply scenarios are consequential for government energy efficiency policies. In the UK where energy supply is regarded as open to a wide range of future options, energy efficiency policy is least clearly articulated. Formal energy scenarios use highly varied energy efficiency targets; several high profile energy efficiency policies have failed, and there is no stable benchmark against which to judge progress. The consequences of failed policies and limited progress against targets are unclear. In contrast with the UK, German policymakers have adopted a rule-of-thumb annual target for renovation of 2% of the building stock; this envisages progress along a steady trajectory to the 2050 target of an 80% reduction in primary non-renewable energy for heat. Danish Government policy treats energy efficiency improvements as central to minimising the cost of renewable energy heat systems; it emphasises the role of building control in ensuring buildings are energetically future proofed whenever they are renovated. • Denmark, Germany and the UK have similar initiatives to stimulate new markets in low carbon heat and energy efficiency in buildings. These include moves to: link the value of energy efficiency improvements to house prices; subsidise renewable heat generation and heat infrastructure; construct advice and information portals. Progress is however slow, and generally regarded as insufficient to meet national low carbon and energy saving targets for buildings. Even in the UK, which lacks a benchmark against which to judge the trajectory of energy efficiency, recent increases in emissions from the domestic sector have caused the Committee on Climate Change to express concern. • The use of economic metrics to justify specific policy design differs between countries: • Renewable heat: UK policy is tightly governed by a model of the economically rational consumer, and uses rule-based degression; the German subsidy system is tailored to achieve target outcomes on a trial-and-error rather than econometric basis, which is viewed as lacking transparency for the sustainable heat industry. • Energy efficiency standards for new buildings: UK regulation is responsive to commercial interests (through formal calculations) which tends to prevent significant tightening of standards; German regulation is derived from calculations designed to meet a 2020 net zero energy standard for buildings, and requires a high level of renewable energy for heating or efficient use of fuel through combined heat and power; Danish policy pushes standards beyond what is calculated as 'cost optimal' in economic terms. • Rules governing economic calculation of cost optimal investments in each country respond to prior policy objectives, but are not determined by them. This is demonstrated in differential applications of cost-benefit analysis for energy efficiency and for district heating under EU Directive reporting. • Policy objectives differ in their flexibility. For example, offsetting heat supply against fabric efficiency standards is regarded as legitimate in Germany and UK, but resisted in Denmark. • Heat and energy efficiency policies address supply and network infrastructures and building-level change. This breadth means policies interact with a wide variety of sociotechnical structures. One of these is taxation structures which have been regarded as obstacles to progress on sustainable heat in each country, but in different ways. In Denmark high taxes on electricity, and practical limitations on taxing biomass, mean that biomass is financially more attractive than electric heat pumps; socioeconomic analysis concludes however that electrification is preferable from a societal perspective. Tax reform is difficult because lowering electricity taxation would have potentially significant impacts on state revenues, and increasing taxes on biomass is administratively challenging, because of the non-energy uses of the material. In Germany a proposal to offer households reductions in income tax when improving the energy performance of their buildings was widely regarded as promising to reach significant segments of the population who are averse to debt financing (through KfW loans). Nonetheless necessary agreement between the Länder proved impossible due to the differential implications for their tax revenues, and the policy has been abandoned. In the UK low VAT rates on domestic energy are interpreted by some as an implicit carbon subsidy, and are identified in policy debates (e.g. by the Committee on Climate Change) as undermining financial incentives for low carbon supply and improved energy efficiency. However, the importance of fuel poverty mitigation in energy policy means that proposals to raise the cost of energy are highly contested. • In each country, scenario analyses of future heat network infrastructure illustrate challenges of developing or changing energy infrastructure in liberalised markets. In Germany a national socioeconomic cost benefit assessment found significant potential for expanded district heating, but this would require high rates of connection in district heating areas, implying government direction of building owners' heat supply choices; this is currently considered politically unpalatable. In the UK official assessment of the socioeconomic potential for district heating ranges from 3% to 39%. This breadth illustrates the sensitivity of estimates of district heating potential to modelling assumptions. In these ways the German and UK cases illustrate difficulties in using economic calculation to achieve a consensus vision for radical change. Similar exercises in Denmark illustrate a complementary dynamic where socioeconomic assessment of the future contribution of district heating concludes that very little change from currently high penetration levels is either necessary or desirable. • Drawing on national approaches to estimating the potential for district heating we have analysed the Scottish Heat Map to understand how the location of potential varies with assumptions, how these locations relate to other Scottish policy objectives (including fuel poverty). a. Our approach has been to estimate the extent of low carbon district heating for a given prevailing heat price using different assumptions about business models. A 'cherry picking' model represents continuation of current UK trend for fragmented, disconnected, project-based development while a 'cross-subsidising' model represents stated policy aspirations for more strategic, interconnected and area-wide development models. The latter would reach approximately 50% more heat demand than the former across a range of reasonable price assumptions, quantifying for the first time the potential impact of a more strategic approach to district heating. b. Areas with high district heating potential are characterised by a high proportion of flats, but neither social housing nor non-gas domestic heating (both advocated in policy debates as targets for heat networks) are particularly concentrated in areas with long-term district heating potential. The spatial distribution of fuel poverty similarly does not pattern with long-term district heating potential. Because areas where long-term district heating potential overlaps with either fuel poverty, non-gas heating or social housing are limited, a policy emphasis on development in these places is likely to perpetuate the fragmented pattern of development and miss economies of scale. 2. Market frameworks and financial appraisal of sustainable heat innovations in UK, Danish and German cities • All case study cities which we studied are working to establish capacities for action on sustainable heat. UK cities are experimenting with municipally owned companies to build capacity. In Aalborg, the municipal approach is channelled through institutionalised structures of ownership (local) and appraisal (national). Hamburg re-municipalisation of heat network infrastructure is regarded as opening up routes to low carbon supply which multinational corporate ownership foreclosed. • Transfer of DH networks to municipal ownership in both Hamburg and Aalborg is associated with debate about potential price rises associated with decarbonisation, though the case for transfer emphasised capacity to keep prices down. One of the key issues about relative prices concerns the counterfactual that is used, and the necessity for a low carbon comparator. • Changes in European and national electricity markets are reshaping the local financial viability of investments in heat supply systems, particularly for combined heat and power. • Civil society groups occupy different positions within city governance institutions, and so play different roles in changing local patterns of heat and energy efficiency. In Germany, citizen-initiative routes to municipal referendums have been critical to cases of energy remunicipalisation. This formal route for activism has, in Hamburg, created means for ongoing participation of civil society groups in debate and governance of the forthcoming repurchase of the district heating scheme. In Danish cities, while some civil society groups campaign on local energy issues their role is more marginal, and local electoral processes are perceived to ensure adequate representation of the interests of citizens in local heat decisions. In the UK civil society groups are marginal, often organising building-specific sustainable heat initiatives (e.g. retrofitting a community building) but struggling to find a role in local energy planning processes. For example, in Glasgow a community group has explored the feasibility of district heating connection for tenement flats to a new waste incinerator, but limited municipal capacity and a fragmented pattern of heat network organisation has prevented these plans being explored as part of a broader comprehensive approach to heat decarbonisation. |
| Exploitation Route | Please see Narrative Impact and section on policy influence |
| Sectors | Energy Environment |
| URL | https://heatandthecity.org.uk/project/reframing-energy-demand-innovation-for-sustainable-heat/ |
| Description | 1. The Research and Pathways to Impact 'Reframing Energy Demand' addresses a central problem for energy policy across Europe: decarbonising heat and upgrading the energy efficiency of every building. Our research is based on comparative analysis of policy and practice in real time in Denmark, Germany and UK. The most valuable impacts from our findings are expected to stem from shared lessons for policy makers and practitioners about comparative European policy measures, their rationales and trajectories. As the myriad challenges in decarbonising heat come into sharper focus we are in a strong position to inform and shape debates about the institutional reforms, planning and regulatory frameworks required to move beyond hitherto piecemeal impacts on the energy performance of buildings and marginal changes in the fuels used for heating. In addition, our comparative analysis of the use of economic metrics in guiding policy developments sheds light on the diversity of calculative practices and the consequences of choice of different metrics for the attributed value of low carbon heat and low energy building options. We anticipate that these insights will be increasingly influential as heat decarbonisation progresses from the 'low hanging fruit' to more costly (and hence more contentious) change, at which point the forms of justification used by policy makers will be increasingly subject to scrutiny. Our intended impact has multiple pathways. First we regard policy-makers as our most significant constituents. This is particularly the case for UK and Scottish Government heat and energy efficiency policies, and associated powers and resources afforded to city authorities engaged in policy negotiation, implementation and review. Second the suppliers of low carbon heat systems are expected to benefit from evidence about comparative business structures and investment, and lastly there are benefits for the extensive capacity building networks of the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC), and the cross-sector Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) and Energy Systems Catapult. The research was designed to engage with each of these sectors and networks as fieldwork progresses and findings emerge. Our research objectives and programme of work were developed from the outset through interaction with policy-makers and practitioners, as well as Co-Directors of the Centre on Innovation and Energy Demand (CIED). This has proved effective, already leading to invitations from: UK governments and their advisers to inform policy developments; trade associations to address conferences, convene discussions or act as expert reviewer for industry codes of practice; and energy research centres and industry-facing institutes to present early findings to their cross-sector networks. We have had formal and informal meetings with: Scottish (Innovation and Energy and Climate Change Directorates) and UK Governments (UK Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and Treasury), Scottish Parliament Cross Party Group on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (SPREEE) and Scottish Business; UK local authorities; ETI; Energy Systems Catapult; Energy Savings Trust; Scotland Europa (Brussels); the UK Association for Decentralised Energy (formerly Combined Heat and Power Association); the Danish Board of District Heating, the Danish Energy Agency and Euroheat and Power (Brussels). We expect findings from our comparative analysis of heat and energy efficiency initiatives in Birmingham, Glasgow, Hamburg and Aalborg to support UK city governments in developing and implementing low carbon heat strategies. In the longer term, we expect the research to contribute to new analytic insight into the effectiveness of different policy instruments for innovation in sustainable heat and low energy buildings. 2. Impact Highlights For specific impacts see detailed section "Influence on Policy, Practice, Patients and the Public". Highlights are summarised below. Our European comparative analysis has contributed to UK and Scottish Government policies for Local Heat & Energy Efficiency Strategies and District Heating Networks. • At UK level, the research informed the 2017 Government Clean Growth Strategy which set out how the Government intended to meet post-2020 targets, including the agreed Fifth Carbon Budget. This impact stemmed first from Prof Webb's advice to the UK Committee on Climate Change on Heat and Energy Efficiency Policy, which used findings from our comparative research, and second from her work with UK Government BEIS on consumer protection standards for heat network customers. Research findings on the role of UK local authorities in energy systems were also used in development of the successful Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund Wave 2 proposal 'Prospering from the Energy Revolution' (PFER). Prof Webb was invited to join the expert group advising Innovate UK and RCUK on development of the funding proposal. The UK Government Industrial Strategy White Paper 2017 records the successful outcome: 'We will launch a new Industrial Strategy "Prospering from the energy revolution" programme to develop world-leading local smart energy systems that deliver cheaper and cleaner energy across power, heating and transport, while creating high value jobs and export capabilities' (p.45). PFER received funding of up to £102.5 million for industry and researchers to develop smart integrated local energy systems that can support the global move to renewable energy. Prof Webb continues to be a member of the resulting PFER Advisory Group and Co-Investigator in the associated EnergyRev Research Consortium. • At Scottish level, the distinctive value of our comparative analysis of European district heating (DH) systems, regulated markets and the role of municipal authorities has had particular recognition and is leading to corresponding impact. In relation to Regulation of District Heating (DH), our findings show that a regulatory framework, adapted to the specific energy market and its infrastructures, is a supportive means both to investment and to consumer protection. Presentations of findings to Scottish Government and its advisers (Scottish Futures Trust, Resource Efficient Scotland and Scottish Enterprise) led to the invitation to advise Government on options for regulation of district heating. Ultimately this has had two outcomes. First, proposed statutory powers for local government to develop and implement comprehensive heat and energy efficiency plans for the building stock (Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies or LHEES); a draft statutory order is expected to proceed to Parliament in 2022. Second, 2021 legislation for DH regulation and licencing, with potential zoning of areas for district heating concessions (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2021/9/enacted ). • Our comparative European case studies of heat and energy efficiency policy and practice provided a distinctive perspective on heat in buildings, including implications for affordable warmth. This expertise led to: o Appointment of Prof Webb to the Scottish Government Expert Panel to Review the Definition of Fuel Poverty (Bramley, G., Fitzpatrick, S., Liddell, C. and Webb. J. (2017) A New Definition of Fuel Poverty in Scotland - A review of recent evidence Scottish Government ISBN: 978-1-78851-242-8). Report recommendations were integrated into Government fuel poverty strategy, culminating in the Fuel Poverty (Targets, Definition and Strategy) (Scotland) Act 2019. o The 2019 appointment of Prof Webb to the Scottish Government Infrastructure Commission for Scotland, established to provide independent, informed advice on infrastructure vision, ambition and priorities, and to create a 30-year infrastructure strategy to meet Scotland's net zero emission targets, and economic and societal needs. The Commission reported to Government in 2020, with references to our research findings on heat network planning and development https://infrastructurecommission.scot/ . Recommendations to Government were largely accepted and integrated into the Scottish Government Infrastructure Investment Plan 2021-2026 https://www.gov.scot/publications/national-mission-local-impact-infrastructure-investment-plan-scotland-2021-22-2025-26/ . o The invitation from ETI and Energy Systems Catapult to Prof Webb to conduct scoping research on socio-technical aspects of UK local energy planning, as part of learning from the Smart Systems and Heat Programme. The Report fed into: evaluation of the future of Local Area Energy Planning including the role of local authorities https://es.catapult.org.uk/report/the-future-of-local-area-energy-planning-in-the-uk/; and development of a UK platform to support local authority action on net zero ambitions https://es.catapult.org.uk/event/net-zero-go-launch-event/. • By working interactively with both Scottish and UK governments we amplified the impact of our findings on policy development for Local Heat & Energy Efficiency Strategies (LHEES). Our research evidence demonstrates that local government powers to plan clean heat and energy efficiency retrofit programmes are a key factor in improving the coherence of low carbon, low energy buildings and securing investment for new developments. At UK and Scottish level, in current market arrangements, the UK risks stalling on energy efficiency improvements to building stock, and unintentionally promoting an unnecessarily costly patchwork of incompatible heating systems, with limited carbon savings. Returns to private finance from low carbon heat infrastructures are frequently assessed as too low, or too risky, to merit investment, and local governments lack capacity to act systematically on heat and energy efficiency infrastructures at urban scale; hence market development remains fragmented. Evidence about the effectiveness of local heat and energy efficiency planning can however be challenging for UK policymakers, given the continuing political commitment to coordination via markets. We have nevertheless made a significant contribution to policy development in Scotland, where strategy has been informed by our findings through invited contributions to the cross-sector Heat Network Partnership, and Working Groups on district heating regulation. The policy and regulatory developments in Scotland in turn had some influence on policy development within UK Government, through invitations to Prof Webb and Dr Hawkey to advise on heat and energy efficiency policy as detailed in the Influence on Policy Section. o UK adoption of low carbon heat and energy efficiency planning, and district heating regulation, will stimulate major change across the whole energy system. As such there will be extensive consultations and engagement with numerous partners, as well as policy experimentation. The eventual outcome of such processes will not be attributable to any single organisation, research group or specific sector. However, we expect our research to continue to make a significant contribution to policy formation and implementation, with on-going impact. A University of Edinburgh Impact Accelerator Award, for example, enabled development of a 2019 policy briefing on Meeting strategic challenges of UK district heating. • At international level, our findings contributed to capacity building by, for example, o sharing research insights on policy and governance options for sustainable heat. Prof Webb gave plenary addresses at: the UKERC 2016 international workshop on Heat Networks and Governance; University of Hamburg 2017 Making Sustainable Cities - Policies and Practices for Low Carbon Heat in Britain and Germany; Irish Renewable Energy Summit: Heat and Energy Efficiency Policy, 2020 https://www.irishrenewableenergy.energyireland.ie/; Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Tenth Annual Seminar on Local and Community Energy, Local Energy in the UK: Social Science Perspectives, 2021 https://www.economiaenergeticauc.cl/. o bringing representatives of the Hamburg government and citizens' initiative (which resulted in re-municipalisation of the energy grids) together with Scottish city authorities at our 2016 Heat Network Partnership workshop, hosted by Falkirk Council. Delegates discussed innovation in low carbon heat in German and Scottish contexts. o presenting evidence at meetings and inquiries organised by European city networks, such as https://heatandthecity.org.uk/project/stratego-project/ . |
| First Year Of Impact | 2018 |
| Sector | Energy,Environment |
| Impact Types | Policy & public services |
| Description | Advice to UK Government BEIS on development of criteria governing the first funding round for the £320M UK Treasury fund for the Heat Networks Investment Project |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | Appointed Member of Scottish Government Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme (LCITP) Assessment Panel |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | Appointed by Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Communities, Social Security and Equalities to Fuel Poverty Review Panel |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| Impact | The Expert Review Panel report (Bramley, G., Fitzpatrick, S., Liddell, C. and Webb. J. (2017) A New Definition of Fuel Poverty in Scotland - A review of recent evidence) was the basis for the government Consultation on a Fuel Poverty Strategy for Scotland. This is a cross-portfolio endeavour by the Scottish Government to take action to tackle fuel poverty and, to legislate to eradicate fuel poverty in a new Warm Homes Bill in summer 2018. |
| URL | http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2017/11/6179/downloads |
| Description | Appointed by Scottish Government to Climate Change Plan Advisory Group 2017-18 |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| URL | http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2018/02/8867 |
| Description | Carbon Connect: Future Gas Series 3 Consumers and Appliances |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| URL | https://www.policyconnect.org.uk/news/call-evidence-future-gas-series-part-3-consumer-and-appliance |
| Description | Co-opted/appointed Member of Scottish Science Advisory Council 2020 |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| URL | https://www.scottishscience.org.uk/scottish-science-advisory-council |
| Description | Competition and Markets Authority's "Heat Networks Market Study - Statement of Scope" - response based on research evidence |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| URL | https://heatandthecity.org.uk/resource/cma-scope-statement-response/ |
| Description | Drafted sections of Scottish Government 2017 "Consultation on Heat & Energy Efficiency Strategies, and Regulation of District Heating" |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| URL | https://consult.scotland.gov.uk/energy-and-climate-change-directorate/local-heat-and-energy-efficien... |
| Description | Evidence on Danish, German and UK comparative policy and practice for low carbon heat and energy efficiency presented to the 2016 Scottish meeting of the UK Committee on Climate Change (UKCCC) |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | Expert Adviser and Peer Reviewer to UK Government BEIS on Social Survey of Consumer Experiences of Heat Networks |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | Findings from the survey are associated with decision by UK Competition and Markets Authority to investigate domestic heat networks, with likely implications for new consumer protection regulation |
| URL | https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/heat-networks-consumer-survey-consumer-experiences-on-hea... |
| Description | Heat Networks Forum - UK Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | The Heat Networks Forum was created by BEIS to draw on expert knowledge and experience in developing district heating policy. It meets monthly. The forum discusses a variety of topics, with a significant focus in 2017 on the Heat Networks Investment Programme (HNIP), a £320m fund to support district heating in England and Wales. I am the only academic member of the forum and bring both international and whole systems perspectives to the discussions. The forum has guided BEIS in moving from a pilot phase to development of full programme, which has involved suggestions for effective criteria in judging applications to ensure effectiveness and long term sustainability of resulting heat network systems. In future the forum will address questions of district heating regulation. |
| Description | Heat and Energy Efficiency: Advisory Group Report to the UK Committee on Climate Change - Making Effective Policy |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| URL | https://www.theccc.org.uk/publication/heat-and-energy-efficiency-advisory-group-report-making-effect... |
| Description | ISCF: Prospering from the Energy Revolution |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| URL | https://www.ukri.org/innovation/industrial-strategy-challenge-fund/prospering-from-the-energy-revolu... |
| Description | Infrastructure Commission Scotland |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| URL | https://infrastructurecommission.scot/ |
| Description | Invited Thought Leader for Scottish Government National Energy Efficiency Programme |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | Scottish Ministers announced in June 2015 that they would take long-term action to reduce the energy demand of, and decarbonise the heat supply to, residential, services and industrial sectors, and designated energy efficiency as a national infrastructure priority. The cornerstone of this will be Scotland's Energy Efficiency Programme (SEEP). This programme aims to contribute to achieving climate change targets, whilst continuing to help tackle fuel poverty and ensuring support for business. SEEP will lead to an estimated investment in excess of £10 billion; the final figure will be determined by decisions taken on the future decarbonisation of the heat supply. The Programme for Government 2016-17 commits to investing more than £0.5 billion in energy efficiency and combating fuel poverty through SEEP over the next four years, setting out a clear commitment to develop this programme with substantial annual public funding. |
| URL | https://consult.scotland.gov.uk/energy-and-climate-change-directorate/scotlands-energy-efficiency-pr... |
| Description | Nominated UK Expert to IEA District Heating and Cooling Committee |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | SGN: Future of Heat |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| URL | https://www.sgn.co.uk/uploadedFiles/Marketing/Pages/Publications/Docs-Strategy/SGN-The-future-of-gas... |
| Description | Scottish Government - Second consultation on local heat & energy efficiency strategies, and regulation of district and communal heating. Research evidence-based response |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Description | Scottish Government District Heating Loans Fund Panel |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | Since 2011, more than £10M has been lent to 40 different projects across Scotland. These projects have generated benefits such as affordable warmth to householders, local employment, reduced costs for businesses and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/scotland/grants-loans/district-heating-loan |
| Description | Scottish Government Infrastructure Mission and development of Infrastructure Investment Plan |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| URL | https://infrastructurecommission.scot/page/key-findings-report |
| Description | Scottish Government Short Life Working Group on Regulation of District Heating |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | In his letter to Members of the Short Life Working Group on Regulation of District Heating the Scottish Government Minister, Paul Wheelhouse, stated that its expertise contributed to 'a comprehensive and insightful consultation document, which will be invaluable in informing and progressing potential legislation in this complex area'. |
| URL | https://consult.scotland.gov.uk/energy-and-climate-change-directorate/local-heat-and-energy-efficien... |
| Description | UK Government BEIS Ministerial roundtable on Domestic Energy Efficiency and Heat, October 2016 |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | UK Government BEIS Steering Group on Heat Networks and Consumer Protection survey research |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | Written and oral evidence on Renewable Heat Targets and Policy for Scottish Parliament Economy Energy and Fair Work Committee |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Description | invitation to give oral evidence; UK Parliament Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee Inquiry: Decarbonising Heat in Homes |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| URL | https://committees.parliament.uk/work/645/decarbonising-heat-in-homes/ |
| Description | Local Energy Planning for Smart Systems and Heat: A Scoping Study |
| Amount | £70,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2018 |
| End | 03/2019 |
| Description | Scottish ClimateXChange Post Doc Research Fellowship: Scottish Energy Efficiency Programme Evaluation of Pilot Projects |
| Amount | £370,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | CxC2016/02 |
| Organisation | ClimateXChange |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2016 |
| End | 10/2019 |
| Description | Scottish Heat Network Parternship: Practioner Group Workshops |
| Amount | £10,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Government of Scotland |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2017 |
| End | 04/2017 |
| Description | University of Edinburgh UKRI Impact Accelerator Award: Future proofing governance and organisation for district heating |
| Amount | £10,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2018 |
| End | 12/2018 |
| Description | Energy Systems Catapult 'Smart Systems and Heat' Programme |
| Organisation | Energy Systems Catapult Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | 1. Invited presentation on the need for research on Heat, UK Energy Systems Catapult (ESC) launch, IET London 2016 2. On-going advice to Energy Systems Catapult 'Smart Systems and Heat' Programme 3. Invited to inform criteria for Whole Energy Systems Scoping Research jointly funded by ESC and EPSRC |
| Collaborator Contribution | Information on research and programme development for low carbon heat in buildings |
| Impact | Planning for future research on low carbon heat and whole energy systems |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Ofgem e-serve collaboration |
| Organisation | Ofgem Office of Gas and Electricity Markets |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | University of Edinburgh - Programme of Work The University agrees to partner with Ofgem E-Serve and work towards the development of the following:- o Conducting at least one lunchtime seminars on agreed topics, per academic year, hosted by Ofgem E-Serve. o Building mutually beneficial relations with colleagues within Ofgem E-Serve in particular, in relation to research proposals. o Working with Ofgem E-Serve content experts to develop thought pieces relevant to Ofgem E-Serve's work. o Inviting Ofgem E-Serve to attend Energy and Society Research Group stakeholder events run by University of Edinburgh o Sharing findings, providing recommendations and outputs from research that has used Ofgem E-Serve data or that may support and improve the work of Ofgem E-Serve. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Ofgem E-Serve - Programme of Work Ofgem E-Serve agrees to partner with the University of Edinburgh and work towards delivery of the following:- o Supporting research, following requests from University of Edinburgh, by sign posting to publically available data and sharing expertise to aid interpretation. Ofgem E-Serve will also seek to share other data, where possible, subject to section 6 of this agreement. o Building mutually beneficial relations with colleagues within Ofgem E-Serve in particular, in relation to research proposals. o Where possible, posing research challenges based on their field experience to form the basis of dissertations for students. o At least one lecture on policy or any other relevant subject, per financial year as agreed by both parties (subject to business requirements) o Attending at least one stakeholder event at the University of Edinburgh. |
| Impact | Too early to state |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Scottish Government Working Group District Heating Regulation |
| Organisation | Government of Scotland |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Advice on European comparative regulatory frameworks for district heating |
| Collaborator Contribution | Information about heat and energy efficiency policy formation |
| Impact | 2015 and 2016 Reports on Regulatory Options for District Heating in Scotland |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | BBC Scotland Future of Heat |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | BBC Scotland discussed the future of heating for our buildings and hot water. They visited the district heating scheme in Aberdeen and talked to the Glasgow manufacturers of water source heat pumps used for district heating in Drammen, Norway. They talked to Prof Webb about her research on sustainable heat, energy efficiency and cities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-38654583 |
| Description | BBC Scotland Interview: Low Carbon Heat http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-38654583 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Prof Webb was interviewed by BBC Scotland on the topic of Low Carbon Heat and future potential recovery of waste heat sources |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-38654583 |
| Description | Bitesize: Where can Scotland's businesses, public sector and organisations show the greatest leadership in tackling national and global climate mitigation? (Energy theme) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | The Bitesize initiative aims to bring together leaders from Scotland's businesses, public sector and organisations with climate related experts to create a shared agenda of joined up action and common goals. Bitesize aims to identify those areas where Scotland's businesses and other bodies can work together to show the greatest leadership in tackling national and global emissions reductions. We hope to create a shared understanding of and support for the most effective actions and to identify the next steps which will encourage sectors to work together in order to achieve greater leverage, galvanise support and meaningful change. To do this, we will need to tackle some key questions: Which actions have the greatest potential to be implemented in the next five years? What interventions are needed in order to create acceptance for the changes required? Which organisations and individuals could have the greatest leverage? The workshop gathered cross sector opinion and expertise on these questions packaged as a series of "bitesize" messages for policymakers and others on next steps for Scottish decarbonisation. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bitesize-tickets-26662601559 |
| Description | Business and Economic Development Roundtable, Scottish Enterprise, Oct 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Invited participant in Business and Economic Development Roundtable, Scottish Enterprise, Oct 2019 on behalf of Infrastructure Commission for Scotland (ICfS); outcomes relating to low carbon infrastructure investment fed into ICfS Report to Government 2020 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | CIED and RED Joint Policy Briefing on Delivering heat networks: Supporting diffusion of heat networks in the UK |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Sharing recent research and policy insights to support the diffusion of heat networks in the UK; Facilitating a dialogue between CIED and RED researchers, key policy-makers, policy experts and practitioners within the heat networks domain. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Carbon Connect & Westminster Sustainable Business Forum: Heat, Energy Efficiency & the Fifth Carbon Budget Portcullis House London Nov 2016 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | On 13 October 2016 the UK Committee on Climate Change (CCC) published a report examining the progress which is required in the areas of heat and energy efficiency in order for the UK to meet the Fifth Carbon Budget. This roundtable, jointly organised by Carbon Connect and the Westminster Sustainable Business Forum (WSBF), explored this publication and Prof Webb's Advisory Report to the UK CCC in detail, and examined how the Government can reduce emissions from heating the UK's buildings. Speakers from UKCCC and Prof Webb structured discussion with a ten minute overview of their perspective on the following discussion points: 1. The importance of energy efficiency in homes and commercial/public buildings 2. The need for a strategic approach to heat decarbonisation 3. Key options for decarbonising heat 4. Low-regrets things that Government policy can do now 5. What we need to do now to prepare for decisions in the next Parliament |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.policyconnect.org.uk/wsbf/events/heat-energy-efficiency-fifth-carbon-budget |
| Description | Chaired EuroHeat&Power Congress 2017 Session on District Heating and Cooling in Europe |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Delegates from a number of European countries heard presentations from experts on district heating and cooling in a number of European countries, with different business models and investment structures. Discussion centred on the transferability of lessons on best practice between different countries with contrasting legacy infrastructures for heating. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://www.ehpcongress.org/ |
| Description | Co-Convener and Plenary presentation at UKERC Heat Networks and Governance two day event, London 2016 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | The International Event attracted 70 delegates, with equal representation of policy-makers, practitioners and academics; it was sponsored by UK Government DECC and ETI Aimed largely at leading-edge local authorities working on heat network issues, the workshop provided the opportunity to exchange best practice in the current budget/policy environment and to input into national heat network priorities around the 300 million GBP capital expenditure announced in the Government's November 2015 Spending Review. Keynotes and panel sessions with experts from government, industry and academia focussed on the following topics: role of local action in national and international efforts to decarbonize heat relevant lessons from international experience with heat networks the evolving landscape: stakeholders, benefits and latest developments commericial viability and UK heat networks? outcomes of early stage funding and business models for delivery or how to get heat networks funded and retain the multiple benefits communities are seeking filling the gaps: capacity and resource needs and next steps, including the identification of responsibilities and problem owners Attendees of this event had an unprecedented opportunity to examine the current state-of-play in the UK and influence future developments for heat networks. Expert practitioners took a hard look at UK prospects in an international context with comparitive lessons from Germany, the Netherlands and further afield. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.ukerc.ac.uk/events/heat-networks-governance-issues.html |
| Description | District Heating Opportunities in Edinburgh (City of Edinburgh Council/STRATEGO). Hawkey member of expert discussion panel. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The event was an opportunity for City of Edinburgh Council to engage particularly with commercial developers (of housing and mixed-use sites) around district heating. Dave Hawkey participated in an expert panel responding to developers' questions in a plenary session, as well as through round table workshops. Council officers regarded the event as having been successful in changing attitudes among developers, and noted that several developers had since expressed an interest in installing district heating on their development sites, particularly if some other party (perhaps the council) were able to take on long term ownership and operation of the infrastructure. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.heatandthecity.org.uk/about/workshops/stratego_project/stratego_coaching_session_1 |
| Description | District heating locations in Scotland - presentation to Scottish Heat Networks Partnership |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | The Scottish Heat Networks Partnership brings together Scottish Government and its agencies (Resource Efficient Scotland, Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Futures Trust, Energy Saving Trust) to develop district heating policy. I presented spatial analysis of policy approaches to district heating drawing on the Scottish Heat Map. This generated much interest and debate, and an invitation to present the work to a local government audience. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | EU IEE Stratego (national heat and cooling plans) Network event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | international capacity building bringing representatives of the Hamburg government and citizens' initiative (which resulted in re-municipalisation of the energy grids) together with Scottish city authorities at our 2016 Heat Network Partnership workshop, hosted by Falkirk Council. Presentations and discussion on innovation in low carbon heat in German and Scottish contexts: governance, business models and finance. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Energy models, markets and governance: The politics of energy planning in Denmark |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Title: Energy models, markets and governance: The politics of energy planning in Denmark The event was hosted by the Reframing Energy Demand project team at Edinburgh University's School of Social and Political Science. Professor Jan Webb, Dr Mark Winskel, Dr Ronan Bolton & Dr David Hawkey Event Description Denmark has a long and distinctive tradition of energy planning. Throughout the 1970s and 80s heat planning was increasingly localized and significant investments were made in district heating infrastructure. Later in the 1990s and 2000s a substantial wind industry was build and Denmark became increasingly integrated with the Nordic electricity market. The challenge of how to integrate different energy sources and systems across the local, national, and international scales is now seen as a central challenge in its energy transition. At this workshop a group of academics from Aalborg University Copenhagen will presented their research on the policy and political challenges of energy systems planning and transition in Denmark. Following the presentations the main topic of discussion focused on what aspects of the Danish experience might be relevant to Scotland in the context of the Scottish Government's Energy Strategy which was in draft form at the time. Presenters, topics and timings 9.45am Arrival, tea and coffee 10am Introductions 10.15am Dr Jens Stissing Jensen. Aalborg University Copenhagen, Making heating governable: Local and national knowledge assemblages for making heating governable: History and current tensions. 10.45am Professor Peter Karnøe. Aalborg University Copenhagen, Project Leader of IREMB, Performing market models - re-performing society: Competing electricty market designs and implications for governance and agency. 11.15am David Drysdale. Aalborg University Copenhagen, Co-evolution of energy system model as governace arrangements 11.45am Panel discussion, Q&A 12.45pm lunch 1.30pm close |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/energy-models-markets-governance-the-politics-of-energy-planning-in-d... |
| Description | European District Heating and Cooling+ Steering Committee - invited presentation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The European District Heating and Cooling+ is an influential industry platform for research and innovation. This presentation to its steering committee introduced emerging Scottish policy on heat planning and district heating, and assessment of how the geographical distribution of social and technical factors relate to these policy tools (e.g. how the spatial distributions of fuel poverty and deprivation relate to suitability for district heating). The aim was to inform the European platform of emerging policy in Scotland and to gather feedback/perspectives from countries where district heating is more prevalent. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Expert review of BEIS-commissioned Research Evaluation of Impact of Private Rented Sector Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (PRS MEES) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Provision of expert review, for UK Government BEIS, of an evaluation of the Private Rented Sector Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (PRS MEES), which aim to ensure all properties in the PRS have a minimum Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) of at least E. The policy extends to both the non-domestic and domestic sectors, however, this evaluation focused only on the domestic side of the regulations. Government will use the expert review as part of assessing the costs & benefits of regulation for improving energy efficiency of rental properties. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Guest Lecture: The Sociology of Energy Markets, Universitat Hamburg Centre for Global Governance |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Invited public lecture by Janette Webb for Universitat Hamburg Centre for Global Governance, in their lecture series "Climate Change, Energy Systems and Sustainability" Outcomes include return visits to Hamburg and discussion with policy makers, civil society groups and practitioners about planning and developing clean and energy efficient heating in the city. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Heat Networks Investment Conference - UK Department of Business Energy and Industrial Strategy |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | UK BEIS ran a conference to engage the investment community with ongoing district heating development, bringing together financiers with project developers and local authorities. David Hawkey and Mags Tingey presented results from 'Heat and the City', 'Local Engagement with UK Energy Systems' and 'Reframing Energy Demand' to give and overview of and insight into patterns of district heating development in the UK and issues shaping prospects for further expansion. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | IGov Local Energy Governance Roundtable |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | IGov Local Energy Governance Roundtable to debate policy and regulatory frameworks to support innovation in UK local and regional energy systems |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | http://projects.exeter.ac.uk/igov/category/events/igov-2-events/local-governance/ |
| Description | International Conference on Climate Change and the Urban Energy Transition, Univerity of Hamburg |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Prof Webb was invited to make a plenary presentation at this international conference of the University of Hamburg Cluster of Excellence on the Climate System. She discussed urban transformation processes in relation of climate change, decarbonization and energy transition. The discussion led to agreement to develop further analytical work on sustainable urban energy and low-carbon pathways in international comparative context. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://www.clisap.de/clisap/organization/events/clisap-workshop-climate-change-decarbonization-and-... |
| Description | Interview on BBC Radio 4 You and Yours about district heating regulation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | David Hawkey was approached by a BBC journalist for comment on pricing controversies affecting some new district heating schemes in the UK, and agreed to a studio interview the following day. The interview was used as part of a segment on district heating. Hawkey explained the regulatory dimensions of district heating, including proposals and what is included and excluded from industry-led Heat Trust regulation. Broadcast nationally on 28 April 2017. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08n1y66 |
| Description | Invited Presentation to Scottish Government Heat and Energy Efficiency Team: 'Scottish energy demand policy' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | This was a briefing for the Scottish Government heat and energy efficiency team on social research on energy efficiency policy making in UK and Scotland, and reasons for policy divergence. Approx 10 officials attended. Invitations to discuss research findings relevant to policy development have continued. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Invited Presentation to Scottish Renewables Annual Conference, Session - 2045: Getting to Net Zero Emissions from Buildings |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | This was an invited presentation to Scottish Renewables (Trade Association) Annual Conference, attended by approx 200 people from business and industry as well as government. Impacts are contribution to development of Scottish Renewables strategy for heat and energy efficiency in buildings. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.scottishrenewables.com/events/40-srac20/ |
| Description | Invited Presentation to UK Committee on Climate Change |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Invited Presentation to Scottish Meeting of UK Committee on Climate Change: Low Carbon Heat and Cities 13 July 2018 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.theccc.org.uk/2018/01/04/uk-cities-climate-change/ |
| Description | Invited by Scottish Government to chair second round public consultation on Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies and District Heating Regulation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Prof Webb chaired the Scottish Government second round public consultation in Edinburgh on Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies and District Heating Regulation. The event was attended by a cross-sector group representing local and central governments, UK regulators, district energy businesses and social enterprises. The discussions were fed back to Government as part of the consultation process, and informed formal responses to the consultation, prior to expected legislation. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://consult.gov.scot/energy-and-climate-change-directorate/lhees-and-dhr2/supporting_documents/L... |
| Description | Invited by Scottish Government to convene funded public consultation events on the first stage of Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies and District Heating Regulation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Approximately 130 people, representing local government, Scottish and district energy businesses, attended public consultation workshops, in Edinburgh and Inverness, on Scottish Government first stage proposals for Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies and District Heating Regulation. We produced a report of the discussions for Scottish Government. This was integrated into Scottish Government's published consultation response; the report was referenced over 30 times in the Government analysis (Scottish Government, 2017 http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2017/11/4994). This is likely to result in legislation on Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies and Regulation of District Heating. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2017/11/4994 |
| Description | Invited participant at Citizens Advice Scotland Stakeholder Event on Regulation and Incentives for Scotland's Energy Efficiency Programme |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | The Consumer Futures Unit at Citizens Advice Scotland invited a group of stakeholder to discuss policy implications of their survey of household responses to potential policy tools to regulate and incentivise 'able-to-pay' households to invest in energy efficiency. Citizens Advice Scotland and Scottish Government officers were keen to engage with expertise, including insight from international research, to inform their interpretation of results from the survey. This fed into Citizens Advice Scotland's report on these aspects of Scotland's Energy Efficiency Programme. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://www.cas.org.uk/publications/warming-scotland-energy-efficiency-putting-consumers-first |
| Description | Invited presentation to the Association for District Energy (ADE) roundtable on the suitability of existing policy targets and progress in housing retrofit/ernergy efficiency |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | ADE roundtable event with MPs to launch their retrofit policy paper and discuss key messages. Guest speakers reflected on the following key aspects: Why current progress and targets on domestic housing retrofit are not enough to reach net zero The role Local Area Energy Planning can play in tailoring retrofit solutions The benefits of using building passports Discussion and questions considered necessary improvements in policy and effective strategies to scale up retrofit of housing for high standards of energy efficiency. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.theade.co.uk/resources/publications/getting-retrofit-for-net-zero-an-approach-for-existi... |
| Description | Invited presentation to Northern Ireland Joint Utilities Regulator and Energy Institute event - Delivering Net Zero for Northern Ireland: UK Policy and Practice for Sustainable Heat and Low Energy Buildings |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Invited presentation to Northern Ireland Joint Utilities Regulator and Energy Institute event - Delivering Net Zero for Northern Ireland: 'UK Policy and Practice for Sustainable Heat and Low Energy Buildings'. Purpose was to inform practitioners and policy makers about existing UK policy and strategy for decarbonising heat and improving energy performance of buildings, as well as policy gaps and options. Approx audience of 150, cross-sector. Questions and discussion afterwards centred on Northern Ireland policy options and lessons from elsewhere. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.energyinst.org/whats-on/search/events-and-training?meta_eventId=2012NI |
| Description | Invited talk: Oxford Energy Seminar 'UK devolution and divergence in energy efficiency policies: Scotland and England' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited talk: Oxford Energy Seminar 'UK devolution and divergence in energy efficiency policies: Scotland and England' Tuesday, 9 February 2021. Purpose was to discuss policy research findings with professional practitioners; discussion centred on why policy is diverging in Scotland and England |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.energy.ox.ac.uk/events/event/uk-devolution-and-divergence-in-energy-efficiency-policies-... |
| Description | Joseph Rowntree Foundation research project "District heating: Delivering affordable and sustainable energy" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Joseph Rowntree Foundation commissioned Changeworks and the Centre for Sustainable Energy to conduct research (survey, interviews and in-depth case studies) on district heating projects in the UK. The aims of the research are to: * understand how housing associations are managing the development and delivery of district and communal heating schemes; * assess the extent to which these schemes are delivering different affordability and sustainability goals; * explore in what context these schemes work most effectively and critical success factors; and * identify recommendations for how policy and practice could be improved to address issues arising. D Hawkey was invited to join the Project Advisory Group to steer the project as it developed and support access to research participants. The research was presented to a range of policymakers and practitioners at launch and has become commonly cited (e.g. in consultant-prepared district heating feasibility reports) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.changeworks.org.uk/resources/district-heating-delivering-affordable-and-sustainable-energ... |
| Description | Local Authority Engagement with Energy in the UK (presentation to Guangxi Local Authorities, China, Delegation) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A delegation of 25 of senior local authority officers and institutional managers from Guangxi province visited the Edinburgh Centre for Climate Innovation to learn about recent developments and approaches to local energy in Scotland. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Local Energy Systems in the UK - ClimateXChange policymaker/practitioner/research workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | The day had two core objectives. (1) To take stock of what we know now: Present examples of 'local energy systems' in practice, synthesise key themes and lessons, and consider how this action is supported by policy. (2) To identify what we need to do: Highlight gaps in research base, identify opportunities for improved institutional support, and consider how to ensure research and policy work together. The event contributed to debate in the lead up to the Scottish Energy Strategy which includes as a core principle "a smarter local energy system" |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | https://www.climatexchange.org.uk/research/projects/local-energy-systems-in-the-uk-taking-stock-and-... |
| Description | Member of Royal Society of Edinburgh Committee of Inquiry into the Future of Energy in Scotland |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The RSE Committee is investigating options for the future of energy in Scotland, drawing on evidence from across business, public and civil society. A series of public meetings is taking place across Scotland and will inform the final report, which aims to contribute to informed debate on energy and climate change. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://www.rse.org.uk/energyinquiry/ |
| Description | New Energy Forum Roundtable on 'The transition to clean heat' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Invited presentation from New Energy Forum think tank on "The transition to clean heat - the role of Disitrct Heatring Networks"; around 20 attendees primarily from Forum membership (ENGIE, Uniper, Macquarie, Minesto, Conrad Energy, the Health and Safety Executive etc). stimulated discussion on alternative technologies for clean heat systems. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | http://www.synnogy.co.uk/new-energy-forum/forum-topics/ |
| Description | Plenary Presentation to Sustainable Scotland Network Annual Conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Invited plenary by Prof Webb to Sustainable Scotland public sector practitioner network annual conference, with an audience of approx 140. Her talk discussed the prospects for Scotland's capacity to implement the 2017 Energy Strategy. She shared the platform with the Scottish Government Director of Energy and Climate Change. There was a wide ranging debate about potential for public sector leadership in clean energy development, the Energy Efficiency Programme, duties of public bodies, Green Infrastructure and aligning community and public-sector action on climate change |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/ssnconference |
| Description | Policy Connect Roundtable: Running the Low Carbon Heat Transition |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Policy Connect is a non-profit Cross-Party Westminster think tank which works to inform public policy, using available evidence. The roundtable followed up on the Polcy Connect report: 'Pipeline to 2050 - Building the foundations for a harmonised heat strategy'. The rountable focused on the governance and delivery of the large-scale transition to low carbon heat, including the following questions: What will be the most effective mechanisms to deliver the transition to low carbon heat? What should the balance be between local, devolved and central government in the rollout of low carbon heating options? What new bodies, or adaptations to existing governance structures, are required to support the deployment of low carbon heating? Are current arrangements sufficient to protect consumers during the transition to low carbon heat? The discussion was attended by business, industry, 3rd sector and academic representatives, as well as UK politicians. It has fed into UK Government policy discussions on decarbonising heat and buildings; the new strategy is due for publication this year. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.policyconnect.org.uk/events/roundtable-running-low-carbon-heat-transition |
| Description | Presentation at Firestarter Festival Scotland on Climate Change and Society |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Prof Webb was invited by Edinburgh Active Citizens Group to present evidence on climate change and society for a general audience at the 2018 Firestarter Festival whcih supports innovation and creativity in public service. Schools were represented as part of citizenship education. The discussion centred on climate protection actions which can be taken by different groups in society. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://firestarterfestival.com/fsf-2018/ |
| Description | Presentation at capacity building event on renewable heat and housing |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Circa 50 people attended this capacity building event which disseminated cross-disciplinary academic knowledge about renewable heat and housing in the UK. The event was convened by University of St Andrews. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Presentation of Scottish Heat Map analysis to SEEP pilot authority workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Scottish Government organised a knowledge exchange workshop for local authorities participating in the pilot for Scotland's Energy Efficiency Programme (SEEP), which includes development of Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies. I presented analysis of the Scottish Heat Map which draws on comparison between techniques in Germany and Denmark, to explore high-level issues around the spatial location of areas that are likely suitable for district heating. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Business-Industry/Energy/SEEP/SEEPPhase2/Identifying |
| Description | Presentation to Scottish Parliament Cross Party Group on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Prof Webb was invited to present evidence on progress in, and obstacles to, development of clean heat and energy efficiency in European context. The cross sector audience heard related presentations from the business sector. There was discussion of ways forward to implement plans for renewable heat and low energy buildings in Scotland. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://heatandthecity.org.uk/?s=SPREEE |
| Description | Prof Webb and Dr Winskel Invited members of the 2016 Scottish Energy Taskforce (convened by WWF Scotland) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Cross sector panel to advise Scottish Government on its forthcoming Energy Strategy Consultation |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | https://www.wwf.org.uk/sites/default/files/2017-01/Energy%20Taskforce%20-%20Final%20Online.pdf |
| Description | Royal Society of Edinburgh Inquiry into Scotland's Energy Future |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Royal Society of Edinburgh Committee of Inquiry into Scotland's Energy Future |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.rse.org.uk/energyinquiry/ |
| Description | Scottish Communities Carbon Action Network - workshop on draft Scottish Energy Strategy. Presentation of proposed heat planning and district heating regulation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The Scottish Community Carbon Action Network convened this workshop for a range of local authority, third sector, and business participants to discuss the content and responses to the Scottish Government's draft energy strategy. I was invited to lead a discussion on the proposals for Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies and Regulation of District Heating. This generated considerable debate, with local authority officers in particular expressing caveated support for the Scottish Government's proposed approach. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Scottish Labour Party Manifesto Workshop - Community Renewables and Energy Efficiency (D Hawkey invited participant) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Dear Colleague, Sarah Boyack MSP and Claudia Beamish MSP, would like to request you expertise at a Community Renewables and Energy Efficiency Round Table, on the 18th of August from 11am-1pm at the WWF Office in The Tun, 4 Jackson's Entry, Edinburgh. The policy roundtable is part of a series of conversations being led by Scottish Labour to support our work in opposition and manifesto development for 2016. We would appreciate your thought and analysis on challenges for Scotland, good practice to promote and innovative solutions to key problems. Below are questions we will be posing, in advance for you to gather your thoughts. ·How do we capture the jobs, community and climate opportunities from community schemes? ·How do we promote more Community and Cooperative energy schemes? ·How do we get our local authorities to engage in the concept of ESCOS and make the most of the opportunities offered by solar, wind and CHP schemes? ·What have been the lessons from Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow Council's efforts to promote renewables? ·What has been the particular role of housing associations and how can it be developed? ·What are the new community options in relation to local storage for energy and heat? ·What's the role of the planning system in delivering the right policy framework for community heat? ·What is the starting point for a national infrastructure project for energy efficiency? ·Are the solutions different for urban and rural communities and householders? ·What are the different challenges posed by building type and ownership that we need to overcome? ·What is the role - if any for the big power companies? |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Scottish Renewables Panel on Future of Heat |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Scottish Renewables Panel on Future of Heat: Presentation on District Heating Event held as part of SNP Annual Conference, Glasgow SECC, 9 October 2018 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Scottish energy policy roundtable |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Convened by Dr Mark Winskel to create dialogue with Scottish Government Director of Energy and the Directors of UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC) and ClimateXChange Scotland; leading to UKERC submission to the Scottish Government's energy strategy consultation |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | UK Parliament Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee Inquiry: Decarbonising Heat in Homes; invitation to give oral evidence |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | invitation to give oral evidence to UK Parliament Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee Inquiry: Decarbonising Heat in Homes (9 Feb 2021). Purpose was to inform BEIS Select Committee report on policy for decarbonising heat, in particular the mix of technologies and network infrastructures. Approx 20 people attended, with approx 8 committee members (MPs). Discussion and questions about costs and benefits of options followed. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://committees.parliament.uk/work/645/decarbonising-heat-in-homes/ |
| Description | UKERC ClimateXChange Scotland Heat Summit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | ClimateXChange and the UK Energy Research Centre hosted a summit in Ediburgh on 15 September 2016, bringing together Scottish policymakers and leading UK researchers on heat transitions. The summit identified priority areas for research, policy and practice to support the decarbonisation of Scotland's heat supply and demand in the context of emerging Scottish policies. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.climatexchange.org.uk/reducing-emissions/edinburgh-heat-summit-2016/ |
| Description | UKERC Heat Networks and Governance (Chairing panel on "Domestic Experiences on the Leading Edge") |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This event took place on April 11 & 12, 2016. Aimed largely at leading-edge local authorities working on heat network issues, the workshop provided the opportunity to exchange best practice in the current budget/policy environment and to input into national heat network priorities around the 300 million GBP capital expenditure announced in the Government's November 2015 Spending Review. [From UKERC web page] The panel on "Domestic Experiences on the Leading Edge" brought together experts on heat network delivery and business models to discuss strategies for mobilising capital and ensuring multiple policy objectives are secured for district heating. The panel primarily contributed to feeding in to DECC's development of its £320m Heat Networks Investment Programme, but also raised awareness across practitioners of projects and approaches, and created opportunities for new voices, such as fuel poverty activists, to contribute to debate. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.ukerc.ac.uk/events/heat-networks-governance-issues.html |
| Description | Webb and Hawkey invited by Danish Embassy to co-chair seminar "Towards a Zero Carbon Scotland - Heat Networks" at Glasgow Velodrome |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This seminar focuses on the practicalities of reaching low or preferably zero carbon by connecting to heat networks (district heating), and examples from Danish cities as well as well as from Scotland are presented. This event is part of the Liveable City programme, which is organised by the Danish Embassy and supported by The Royal Incorporation Of Architects In Scotland as well as Construction Scotland Innovation Centre. It is also part of The Festival of Architecture. [From website] Workshop aimed to facilitate knowledge exchange among Scottish heat network practitioners and engagement with Danish district heating models and companies. Jan Webb and Dave Hawkey were invited to co-chair the morning and afternoon sessions respectively. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/towards-a-zero-carbon-scotland-heat-networks-tickets-27435433119# |
| Description | • Innovate UK ISCF Prospering from the Energy Revolution Assessment Interview Panel Member: Detailed Design Concepts for Smart Local Energy Systems, Competition Funding, Oct 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Innovate UK ISCF Prospering from the Energy Revolution Assessment Interview Panel Member: Detailed Design Concepts for Smart Local Energy Systems, Competition Funding, Oct 2019. Panel interviewed business consortia applicants for innovation fundings to support smart local energy sytems design and fevelopment, and recommended award decisions. £21 million awarded to 10 consortia as follows West Midlands Regional Energy System Operator (RESO) - Coventry GIRONA - Coleraine, Causeway Coast and Glens Peterborough Integrated Renewables Infrastructure (PIRI) - Peterborough GreenSCIES 2 - Green Smart Community Integrated Energy Systems - Islington (London) Zero Carbon Rugeley - Rugeley GM Local Energy Market - Greater Manchester Project REMeDY - spearheading a Revolution in Energy Market Design - Southend Energy Kingdom - Milford Haven Multi-vector Energy Exchange - Liverpool REWIRE-NW - Warrington |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.ukri.org/news/powering-towards-net-zero-pioneering-energy-projects-get-the-green-light/ |