Publications


A socio-technical perspective on low carbon investment challenges – Insights for UK energy policy

Research article by Tim Foxon on 1 Mar 2015

The UK is moving into a new phase of energy governance which is characterised by significant demand for new investment to meet long term climate policy objectives and to address shorter term energy security challenges. This paper examines how contributions from the socio-technical systems approach can be operationalised to address the policy and societal challenge […]




Energy and complexity: New ways forward

Research article by Frin Bale, Tim Foxon on 15 Jan 2015

The purpose of this paper is to review the application of complexity science methods in understanding energy systems and system change. The challenge of moving to sustainable energy systems which provide secure, affordable and low-carbon energy services requires the application of methods which recognise the complexity of energy systems in relation to social, technological, economic […]


Renewable energy partnerships in development cooperation: Towards a relational theory of technical assistance

Working paper by Lena Kruckenberg on 6 Jan 2015

Recent decades have witnessed a surge in international programs set up to assist the transfer and application of renewable energy technologies (RETs) to low and lower-middle income countries. So far, such programmes have yielded a mixed record of success. While partnerships between international, national and local organisations have become the pre-eminent model for programme design […]


Infrastructure transformation as a socio-technical process – Implications for the governance of energy distribution networks in the UK

Research article by Tim Foxon on 1 Jan 2015

This paper seeks to uncover and examine the complex set of governance challenges associated with transforming energy distribution networks, which play a key enabling role in a low carbon energy transition. We argue that, although the importance of such infrastructure networks to sustainability and low carbon transitions in the energy, water and mobility sectors is […]


Energy model, boundary object and societal lens: 35 years of the MARKAL model in the UK

Research article by Peter Taylor, Paul Upham on 27 Dec 2014

Taylor PG, Upham P, McDowall W, Christopherson D. In: Energy Research and Social Science, vol. 4, pp.32-41. 2014. Abstract Technical energy models operate within social systems and those that perform particular social as well as technical functions are more likely to be used. We illustrate this with the example of the MARKAL energy system model […]