Presentations
The energy policy and markets policy session included the below presentations.
You can download a PDF of the combined energy policy and market policy presentations.
This session was also recorded and can be found embedded below or on our youtube channel.
Projects
Climate change action in the authority of devolved subnational actors: the case for devolution
Student: John Zepos
Supervisor(s): Dr Kaveh Madani (Centre for Environmental Policy), Dr Mark Workman (Centre for Environmental Policy)
Poster: #1 Download PDF COMING SOON
This thesis concentrates on the role subnational players, like cities, play in contributing to the climate change effort. It proposes scenarios for countries wishing to join subnational coalitions both in a single country and across the world. To understand the marginal effect of one country's joining such an effort, order of participation is varied as are benefit structures. The thesis then evaluates the policy insights gained in the context of climate change abatement.
The hero, the dragon and the intergovernmental panel on climate change: how can strategic narratives help the IPCC explain its purpose?
Student: Luke David Bevan
Supervisor(s): Dr Mark Workman (Centre for Environmental Policy), Simon Bushell, Thomas Colley
Poster: #2 Download PDF COMING SOON
Human beings understand their societies and the world surrounding them through stories. Decarbonisation and energy transitions will be understood through a nested framework of narratives. This research explores the way in which strategic narratives can be used to motivate and coordinate actors to action on climate change. By considering the fundamental structures of narratives, this research aims to discover the necessary constituents for compelling climate narratives.
What are the uncertainties of the Energy Union implementation? An energy transition perspective
Student: Krisztina Szabo
Supervisor(s): Dr Mark Workman (Centre for Environmental Policy), Dr Geoff Darch (Head of Climate Futures at Atkins)
Poster: #3 Download PDF COMING SOON
In order to address the issue of anthropogenic emissions, increasing number of supra-national and national policy initiatives have been developed in order to deliver a purposeful energy transition. Policies to transition energy systems to meet decarbonisation and security goals must deal with multiple uncertainties. This research studies energy transitions with a focus on the type of uncertainties involved, how they might be accounted for, quantified and addressed in present policy design. This study uses existing theory to assess the development of the Energy Union and its strategic role to support a transition to a low-carbon future.
Forecasting the Impact of Middle East Geopolitics on China's Energy Security: A Case Study in the Context of 'One Belt One Road'
Student: Yichen Qian
Supervisor(s): Dr Mark Workman (Centre for Environmental Policy), Dr Brian Efird, Dr Marcello Contestabile
Poster: #4 Download PDF COMING SOON
China is reliant on imported oil from the Middle East. In 2013, Xi Jinping launched the One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative. Although the initiative seeks to encourage economic benefit for all the participant nations, it's ultimate aim is to ensure that oil from the Middle East continues to flow without interruption to China. This project seeks to survey the history of the OBOR initiative, the key objectives, how it compares to other multi-national trade pacts and explores possible implications on Chinese energy security amongst other issues. Against this backdrop, this project evaluates how the stakeholders, both Chinese and Middle Eastern, are advancing the OBOR initiative and the implications that this might have on securing Middle Eastern oil supplies for China in the short to medium term.
What are the least regret technology options to provide ‘flexibility’ in increasingly intermittent power markets, and do existing policy designs sufficiently incentivise these?
Student: Clemens Tepel
Supervisor(s): Professor Tim Green, Eamonn Boland (Baringa), Debbie Buckley (Baringa)
Poster: #5 Download PDF COMING SOON
The increasing level of intermittent renewable energy penetration combined with the closure of firm, dispatchable coal-fired power generation increases the need for flexibility in the British power system in order to maintain security of supply and system stability. This thesis investigates how much flexible capacity is needed and which technology options are most suitable to provide this flexibility. A broad variety of technologies is considered, ranging from energy storage and demand side response to interconnectors and flexible generation. Finally, current policies regarding flexibility provision are assessed and recommendations are made.
Electricity price for commercial end users in the UK
Student: Aitor Soler Garcia
Supervisor(s): Dr Salvador Acha Izquierdo (Department of Chemical Engineering)
Poster: #6 Download PDF COMING SOON
Electricity bills in the UK are increasing year after year, reducing the profitability of businesses. Industy is therefore trying to understand and mitigate these costs. This research details the cost of electricity over time for different UK regions considering all billing elements. A model that generates real-time price curves in various day types for half-hourly metered consumers is developed. This project concludes with different scenarios to analyse electricity price in the future.
Future Electricity Utilities: influence of energy system developments on business model innovation
Student: Marie-Sophie Wegner
Supervisor(s): Dr Mark Workman (Faculty of Engineering), Dr. Stephen Hall, Dr. Christoph Mazur (Department of Chemical Engineering)
Poster: #7 Download PDF COMING SOON
The UK and other OECD nations have traditionally relied on large vertically integrated (VI) electricity companies to finance, construct and operate large scale generation. Historic public sector investment combined with this traditional structure has ensured large capacity margins which has delivered energy security. Most future energy scenarios rely on increasing penetrations of intermittent renewables to meet decarbonisation goals, a smarter and more diverse energy market to meet price goals and a continuing provision of large generation assets to secure supply. Can the traditional utility business, dominant in the UK market, deliver the appropriate innovation and deployment of the requisite mix of low carbon and flexible and resilient generation capacity? This project will assess the ability of the UK's Big Six Energy Suppliers to to respond to systemic risks anticipated in future UK energy scenarios. This research will also evaluatethe financial implications, policy responses and corporate strategy needed to negotiate the increasingly unstable operating environment for the Big Six Energy suppliers.
Strategic narratives on climate change: how to persuade companies they can be 'green' and grow
Student: Shaunagh Duncan
Supervisor(s): Dr Mark Workman (Faculty of Engineering)
Poster: #8 Download PDF COMING SOON
Climate change is a wicked problem requiring immediate and collective international action across all sectors of society. To date, the response has resulted in insufficient action to address the root cause of the problem. In order for significant action on climate change to be realised, a grand strategic narrative must align the three key actors of government, business and society, with individual narratives aligning certain elements underneath. A key characteristic of the climate change discourse has been widespread employment of ineffective narratives on climate change that have been stifled by communication, cognitive, emotional and social barriers. These narratives are analysed in terms of their potential to overcome the barriers identified. In light of this analysis, a research proposal for the development of a strategic corporate green growth narrative to address the present climate change inaction is put forward. Its aim is to advance the progress in aligning businesses and society on a common theme of green growth and to be incorporated under the grand strategic narrative.
