3 research outputs found
Reconciling qualitative storylines and quantitative descriptions: an iterative approach
Energy system transition research has been experimenting with the integration of qualitative and quantitative analysis due to the increased articulation it provides. Current approaches tend to be heavily biased by qualitative or quantitative methodologies, and more often are aimed toward a single academic discipline. This paper proposes
an interdisciplinary methodology for the elaboration of energy system socio-technical scenarios, applied here to the low carbon transition of the UK. An iterative approach was used to produce quantitative descriptions
of the UK's energy transition out to 2050, building on qualitative storylines or narratives that had been developed through the formal application of a transition pathways approach. The combination of the qualitative and quantitative analysis in this way subsequently formed the cornerstone of wider interdisciplinary research, helping to
harmonise assumptions, and facilitating âwhole systemsâ thinking. The methodology pulls on niche expertise of contributors to map and investigate the governance and technological landscape of a system change. Initial inconsistencies were found between energy supply and demand and addressed, the treatment of gas generation, capacity factors, total installed generating capacity and installation rates of renewables employed. Knowledge gaps relating to the operation of combined heat and power, sources of waste heat and future fuel sources were
also investigated. Adopting the methodological approach to integrate qualitative and quantitative analysis resulted in a far more comprehensive elaboration than previously, providing a stronger basis for wider research, and for
deducing more robust insights for decision-making. It is asserted that this formal process helps build robust future scenarios not only for socio political storylines but also for the quantification of any qualitative storyline
Realising Transition Pathways Working Paper 2013/3
<p>Working Paper -"The UK low carbon energy transition: prospects and challenges"</p
Divergence of Trends in US and UK Aggregate Exergy Efficiencies 1960â2010
National exergy efficiency analysis
relates the quality of primary
energy inputs to an economy with end useful work in sectoral energy
uses such as transport, heat and electrical devices. This approach
has been used by a range of authors to explore insights to macroscale
energy systems and linkages with economic growth. However, these analyses
use a variety of calculation methods with sometimes coarse assumptions,
inhibiting comparisons. Therefore, building on previous studies, this
paper first contributes toward a common useful work accounting framework,
by developing more refined methodological techniques for electricity
end use and transport exergy efficiencies. Second, to test this more
consistent and granular approach, these advances are applied to the
US and UK for 1960 to 2010. The results reveal divergent aggregate
exergy efficiencies: US efficiency remains stable at around 11%, while
UK efficiency rises from 9% to 15%. The US efficiency stagnation is
due to âefficiency dilutionâ, where structural shifts
to lower efficiency consumption (e.g., air-conditioning) outweigh
device-level efficiency gains. The results demonstrate this is an
important area of research, with consequent implications for national
energy efficiency policies