Energy storage in the UK electrical network : estimation of the scale and review of technology options

This paper aims to clarify the difference between stores of energy in the form of non-rechargeable stores of energy such as fossil-fuels, and the storage of electricity by devices that are rechargeable. The existing scale of these two distinct types of storage is considered in the UK context, followed by a review of rechargeable technology options. The storage is found to be overwhelmingly contained within the fossil-fuel stores of conventional generators, but their scale is thought to be determined by the risks associated with long supply chains and price variability. The paper also aims to add to the debate regarding the need to have more flexible supply and demand available within the UK electrical network in order to balance the expected increase of wind derived generation. We conclude that the decarbonisation challenge facing the UK electricity sector should be seen not only as a supply and demand challenge but also as a storage challenge. (c) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Construction of a multi-sectoral inter-regional IO and SAM database for the UK

The purpose of this paper is to explain the construction of the input-output (IO) and social accounting matrix (SAM) databases for the inter-regional computable general equilibrium (CGE) model of the UK developed as part of the project 'An Analysis of National and Devolved Economic Policies' undertaken as part of the ESRC Devolution and Constitutional Change research programme. We identify four main regions of the UK: Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England. However, in Section 2, we begin by constructing a set of two-region accounts where we focus on Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland with the other aggregate 'region' labelled 'rest of the UK' or RUK. Then, in Section 3, we extend to a three-region framework where we identify Scotland, Wales and RUK. Finally, in Section 4, we extend further to construct the full 4-region IO and SAM

The evolution of green jobs in Scotland : a hybrid approach

In support of its ambitious target to reduce CO2 emissions the Scottish Government is aiming to have the equivalent of 100% of Scottish electricity consumption generated from renewable sources by 2020. This is, at least in part, motivated by an expectation of subsequent employment growth in low carbon and renewable energy technologies; however there is no official data source to track employment in these areas. This has led to a variety of definitions, methodologies and alternative estimates being produced. Building on a recent study (Bishop et al, 2013) we develop a "hybrid" approach which combines the detail of "bottom-up" surveys with "top-down" trend data to produce estimates on employment in Low Carbon Environmental Goods and Services (LCEGS). We demonstrate this methodology to produce estimates for such employment in Scotland between 2004 and 2012. Our approach shows how survey and official sources can combine to produce a more timely measure of employment in LCEGS activities, assisting policymakers in tracking, consistently, developments. Applying our approach, we find that over this period employment in LCEGS in Scotland grew, but that this was more volatile than aggregate employment, and in particular that employment in this sector was particularly badly hit during the great recession

Evaluating the Usefulness of Forecasts of Relative Growth

Forecasts of differences in growth between countries serve an important role in the justification of governments’ fiscal policy stances, but are not tested for their accuracy as part of the current range of forecast evaluation methods. This paper examines forecasted and outturn growth differentials between countries to identify if there is usefulness in forecasts of “relative” growth. Using OECD forecasts and outturn values for GDP growth for (combinations of) the G7 countries between 1984 and 2010, the paper finds that the OECD’s success in predicting the relative growth of G7 countries during this period is good. For each two-country combination results indicate that relative growth forecasts are less useful for countries which have smaller outturn growth differentials

Report on the evidence for net job creation from policy support for energy efficiency and renewable energy: An appraisal of multi-sectoral modelling techniques

First paragraph: The global response in the face of man-made climate change has focused on reducing the environmental impacts of human activities. The Kyoto protocol, for instance, was the world first global agreement to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. Much of the focus of national and international emissions reduction strategies has been on the way in which energy is produced and used in economies. Evidence suggests that much of the economic development since the industrial revolution has gone hand in hand with increased demand for and use of energy. This has typically over the last century increased demand for and use of energy from fossil fuels, such as from coal, oil and gas. The ways in which energy is produced and used can have significant impacts on greenhouse gas emissions. Solutions proposed for reducing emissions during energy production include renewable energy technologies, while energy efficiency has been proposed as the key mechanism through which energy use is reduced

Success in Sectoral Export Promotion and Economic and Environmental Indicators : A Multisectoral Modelling Analysis

UK policymakers are seeking to use the levers of a more active industrial policy to develop economic opportunities, including through new and expanded trading opportunities. At the same time, the UK Government has committed to a net zero greenhouse gas emissions target by 2050. While increases in exports are expected to raise economic activity, it is unclear what impact this will have on UK energy use and emissions. With a main plank of the UK strategy the development of "Sector Deals", it is unknown whether this is also true for specific industrial sectors. We examine this empirically in a multisectoral Computable General Equilibrium model of the UK that captures the interdependence between economic activity, energy use and emissions. Our results suggest that while economic outcomes move in the desired direction there are mixed impacts on energy use, UK territorial industrial emissions, and the energy- and emissions-intensity of the UK economy. Notably, we identify instances where growing exports in specific sectors helps to meet the objectives of both the Clean Growth Strategy and Industrial Strategy

Green in the heart or greens in the wallet? The spatial uptake of small-scale renewable technologies

The introduction of a Feed-in-Tariff (FIT) support mechanism has spurred development of small-scale domestic renewable electricity generation throughout Great Britain (GB), however the spatial pattern of uptake has been been uneven, suggesting that local, as well as between neighbourhood factors may be at important. As well as confirming that local socio-economic factors, including wealth, housing type and population density are found to be important in explaining uptake of this policy, local "green" attitudes - measured in three different ways - are shown not to be important. Existing local technical expertise, proxied for using data on small-scale renewable electricity devices in each area prior to the introduction of FIT, is an important factor in explaining subsequent adoption. Critically, we also find that there are spatial (i.e. between neighbourhood) processes explaining the uptake of these technologies. Taken together, our results suggest that, as currently designed, FIT policy may be regressive in income and could exacerbate spatial economic in-equalities

The characteristics of energy employment in a system-wide context

Changes in energy supply in the coming decades will have major economic implications. To understand the possible employment consequences of this transition, many previous studies have considered the level and types of employment in existing energy technologies; these have, however, neglected impacts on skills and occupations. Using the hypothetical extraction approach, we explore these characteristics for employment both in - and supported by - energy activities in the UK. We show that the impact on occupation and skills across the whole economy is more evenly spread than the employment in individual sectors. From the empirical results presented here, it is clear that the system-wide demands for employment can change the pattern of labour market needs, and that this has implications for labour market planning in the low carbon transition

Remote sensing of water quality – fact sheet

Evaluating water quality is a key tool in lake management. Typically water quality samples are restricted to a limited number of point samples collected in situ in the field, which can be time consuming and costly. Also, the few in situ points sampled fail to capture the spatial variability, e.g., for the large Lake Waikare (3,400 ha; Figure. 1)

Water as an economic resource and the impacts of climate change on the hydrosphere, regional economies and Scotland

There is increasing evidence that the global climate is changing and that this will have implications for the future of water resources. The impacts of climate change will be transmitted primarily via the global hydrosphere, whereby changes in rainfall patterns and the frequency and magnitude of extreme weather conditions (e.g., flood and drought) will result in significant challenges, including for the way we access, manage and use freshwater resources. In addition, water demand will continue to rise to support a growing global population and its resultant increases in food and energy needs. There are likely to be variations across the globe in climate change impacts and these will further exacerbate existing spatial disparities in water availability. Water is a critical component for all aspects of life, and is particularly significant in many economic activities (e.g. agriculture, energy etc.). Changes in water availability and hydrological extremes will impact at regional and global scales on economic activity, supply chains, key industries and migration. While all regions of the world will be impacted by climate-induced water stress, regions with robust water policies and water management strategies, or at the leading edge of water-technologies may see opportunities. Here, we discuss the projected impacts of climate change on water resources, and the challenges and opportunities this poses for economic activities in Scotland, including Scotland’s readiness to adapt to changes in water availability