Transition pathways for a UK low-carbon electricity system : comparing scenarios and technology implications

Barton, John and Davis, Lloyd and Dooley, Ben and Foxon, Timothy J. and Galloway, Stuart and Hammond, Georffrey P. and O’Grady, Áine and Robertson, Elizabeth and Thomson, Murray (2018) Transition pathways for a UK low-carbon electricity system : comparing scenarios and technology implications. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 82 (Part 3). pp. 2779-2790. ISSN 1364-0321

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    Abstract

    The United Kingdom (UK) has placed itself on a transition towards a low-carbon economy and society, through the imposition of a goal of reducing its ‘greenhouse’ gas emissions by 80% by 2050. A set of three low-carbon ‘Transition Pathways’ were developed to examine the influence of different governance arrangements on achieving a low-carbon future. They focus on the power sector, including the potential for increasing use of low-carbon electricity for heating and transport. These transition pathways were developed by starting from narrative storylines regarding different governance framings, drawing on interviews and workshops with stakeholders and analysis of historical analogies. Here the quantified pathways are compared and contrasted with the main scenarios developed in the UK Government's 2011 Carbon Plan. This can aid an informed debate on the technical feasibility and social acceptability of realising transition pathways for decarbonising the UK energy sector by 2050. The contribution of these pathways to meeting Britain's energy and carbon reduction goals are therefore evaluated on a ‘whole systems’ basis, including the implications of ‘upstream emissions’ arising from the ‘fuel supply chain’ ahead of power generators themselves.

    Author(s):Barton, John, Davis, Lloyd, Dooley, Ben, Foxon, Timothy J., Galloway, Stuart ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1978-993X, Hammond, Georffrey P., O’Grady, Áine, Robertson, Elizabeth ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1630-7563 and Thomson, Murray
    Item type:Article
    ID code:64473
    Keywords:transition pathways, scenarios, energy systems modelling, whole systems appraisal, Electrical engineering. Electronics Nuclear engineering, Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
    Subjects:Technology > Electrical engineering. Electronics Nuclear engineering
    Department:Strategic Research Themes > Measurement Science and Enabling Technologies
    Strategic Research Themes > Energy
    Faculty of Engineering > Electronic and Electrical Engineering
    Depositing user: Pure Administrator
    Date deposited:14 Jun 2018 11:05
    Last modified:28 Aug 2019 01:24
    URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/64473
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