Released on the 12th of October 2017, the strategy outlines the Government’s plan to lead “the way to a low carbon future” including plans to cut emissions in buildings, transport, electricity and heating.
The UK TIMES model (UKTM), developed by UCL Energy Institute’s wholeSEM and UK Energy Research Centre teams in partnership with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), was used in the strategy to explore energy options and opportunities for the UK, looking towards 2050 (page 150). UKTM models the whole UK energy system and identifies how the UK might achieve an affordable low-carbon economy. In the Clean Growth Strategy, the model underpinned analysis of 2050 pathways. The first objective of the analysis was to understand the range of possible long-term outcomes or three different economy-wide decarbonisation pathways. The second objective was to confirm these pathways were consistent with targets set by the fifth carbon budget and 2050 emission reduction targets. See page 150 onwards of the strategy for more information. Paul Dodds, who develops UKTM, said, “I am very pleased to see UKTM contributing to such an important strategy for the UK. It is a great example of how UK energy modelling research can be used to inform important policy decisions, when carried out in an open and collaborative environment with appropriate quality assurance”.
Also featured was the LENDERS project (Levering Economics for New Drivers to Energy Reduction & Sustainability), delivered by UCL-Energy’s RCUK CEE researchers in consortium of eight partners – Nationwide Building Society, BRE, UKGBC, Arup, Principality Building Society, the Energy Saving Trust, and Constructing Excellence Wales. The LENDERS report suggests homebuyers could take out bigger mortgages if the energy ratings of properties were factored into the lending criteria of banks and building societies, government-funded research has found. The Clean Growth Strategy recognises, “Improving the energy performance of homes is vital in decarbonising our economy. Mortgage lenders have a significant financial stake in these properties, their future value, and their customers’ ability to make their repayments.” and therefore the recommendation set out by the LENDERS project should be implemented.
Other UCL research featured in the evidence base was ‘A review of hydrogen production technologies for energy system models’ from Paul Dodds and Will McDowall, used for hydrogen assumptions (page 160). Further, consultancy research for the Department of Transport was used to underpin maximum transport growth and delivery rate assumptions (page 158).