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Reference Number	ETI-ST2016
Title	Local Engagement in the UK Energy System
Status	Completed
Energy Categories	Other Cross-Cutting Technologies or Research (Other Supporting Data) 50%; Other Cross-Cutting Technologies or Research (Environmental, social and economic impacts) 50%;
Research Types	Applied Research and Development 100%
Science and Technology Fields	SOCIAL SCIENCES (Politics and International Studies) 80%; SOCIAL SCIENCES (Sociology) 20%;
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation	Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Policy and regulation) 50%; Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Other sociological economical and environmental impact of energy) 50%;
Principal Investigator	Professor J (Janette ) Webb No email address given School of Social and Political Science University of Edinburgh
Award Type	Institute Project
Funding Source	ETI
Start Date	01 January 2014
End Date	31 December 2017
Duration	48 months
Total Grant Value	£824,076
Industrial Sectors
Region	Scotland
Programme	Cross Cutting Programme (Strategy)
Investigators	Principal Investigator	Professor J (Janette ) Webb , School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh (99.998%)
	Other Investigator	Dr D (David ) Hawkey , School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh (0.001%) Ms M (Mags ) Tingey , School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh (0.001%)
Web Site
Objectives
Abstract	The UK’s contribution to meeting global climate protection targets includes a radical agenda for a clean energy system, and a low energy building stock: ‘by 2050, all buildings will need to have an emissions footprint close to zero’ (UK Carbon Plan, 2011, p.5). Local governments are critical to making this happen: they are democratically elected bodies with significant planning powers, resources and knowledge, and they are committed to the area for the long term. Our Local Engagement in UK Energy Systems research examines the current and future contribution of local governments to changing energy production, supply and use. Findings provide knowledge about the extent of local engagement in energy generation, supply and user-led innovation under current institutional structures; and identify local energy governance and business models being developed, and their differential approach to assembling value, and allocating risks and rewards. Our UK-wide survey is the first systematic overview of energy plans and projects across the complete population of local authorities. Findings from the survey are supported by a review of local government engagement in energy in other parts of Europe. We are also developing 40 in-depth case studies of local energy plans and strategies, investment in low carbon and renewable technologies, renovation of buildings to reduce energy use and user-led innovation. Early findings indicate the challenges faced by local authorities in moving from, often ambitious, plans to implementation, particularly in a governance structure where local authority budgets are centrally controlled and decreasing. Outcomes will inform further research on the emerging, and differentiated, patterns of social and technical innovation in localised energy, and their interaction with established network infrastructures and large-scale corporate suppliers of gas and electricity. We aim to engage policy actors, public and private practitioners and researchers in discussion about future potential for localised innovations to improve UK energy systems’ sustainability, productivity, resilience and affordability. We aim to engage policy actors, public and private practitioners and researchers in discussion about future potential for localised innovations to improve UK energy systems’ sustainability, productivity, resilience and affordability.
Data	Local Authority Engagement in UK Energy Systems
Projects	No related projects
Publications	European Engagement with Local Energy Systems Governing cities for sustainable energy: The UK case Local Authority Engagement in UK Energy Systems: Highlights from Early Findings The EU referendum: Implications for UK Energy Policy - What We Know about Local Authority Engagement in UK Energy Systems
Added to Database	11/10/18