XClose

UCL Energy Institute

Home
Menu

RCUK Centre for Energy Epidemiology

The RCUK Centre for Energy Epidemiology (CEE) was the UK’s first dedicated energy epidemiology research centre, launched in 2013 and running until December 2018.

View of globe with electricity use at night

The centre aims to transform the way research is undertaken to reduce energy demand, through the development of brand new tools, methods and resources.

The UK has an urgent need to make big changes to the way it uses energy in order to meet its carbon targets and address the threat of global climate change. In order to make these changes, policymakers, practitioners and academics need to develop a much better understanding of the complex way that people, buildings and communities use energy, in order to find policies and solutions that are effective, achievable and sustainable.

Launched in 2013, CEE aims to respond to the myriad challenges currently facing energy research. Through the use of Research Council funding we have been able to establish an expert, multidisciplinary and multisectoral team of researchers to apply the energy epidemiology approach to develop new and exciting research opportunities. Through this work, CEE will be able to improve our understanding of energy demand and enhance the positive impact of our research.

CEE's vision is to precipitate a paradigm shift in the way we understand energy demand through the development of new research methods and tools – specifically, application of epidemiological methods to large, linked data sets on energy demand across sectors, people, energy systems and infrastructure. CEE aims to spearhead a new research field, energy epidemiology, based around a secure and accessible data repository available for all UK researchers via a bureau service. This will put the UK in the lead internationally in the understanding of complex interactions between people, energy use and systems of technology. Most importantly, it will provide a step change in provision of evidence to support innovation in policy, markets, products, services and systems to meet carbon targets over the critical coming half century.

CEE is one of six Centres of Excellence in End-Use Energy Demand. Funded by the Research Councils UK Energy Programme – with industry and government partners – we research energy use in domestic, commercial, construction, food chain, industrial, retail and transport settings. We seek to better understand future energy needs and offer solutions to help meet the UK’s carbon emissions targets. £40m+ funding | 200+ researchers | 70+ projects | 25+ institutions | 6 centres | 5 years.