Tim has just a new paper published in the highly esteemed journal Energy Policy. The paper follows as a direct result of Tim's 2010 Fellowship in DECC, and was written with Patricia Allen who undertook most of the work for the project as her dissertation for the UWE MSc in Environmental Consultancy. This paper, along with the work of Dr Rose Bailey (see http://www.futurebristol.co.uk/) demonstrate the leading role that AQMRC is taking in supporting the development of strong, credible visions for a low carbon future.
Carbon reduction scenarios for 2050: An explorative analysis of public preferences
Allen, P., Chatterton, T.
Abstract
This paper presents an analysis of public preferences for a low carbon future UK and compares them with three future scenarios proposed by the UK government based on data from 10,983 self-selected participants who engaged in the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change 'My2050' online simulation. Participants expressed a stronger preference for demand-side options than for supply-side ones. They also chose fuel switching (to electricity) and technical energy efficiency measures above more behaviour focused options. Renewable energy options (wind, solar, marine and hydro) were preferred to other low carbon supply options (nuclear power, carbon capture and storage), with offshore wind power more popular than onshore. Nuclear power was the least popular generation option. Acceptability of the government′s three proposed scenarios was tested by comparing these scenarios with the research findings. Greatest support was suggested for the two scenarios emphasising business greenness, home energy efficiency, electrification of home heating and travel behaviour. The lowest level of support was demonstrated for the scenario based on significant growth in nuclear power with minimal increases in energy efficiency. Despite issues regarding the representivity of the sampled respondents, the work demonstrates the possibility of using outputs from the tool to assess publically preferred pathways.
Patricia Allen, Tim Chatterton, Carbon reduction scenarios for 2050: An explorative analysis of public preferences, Energy Policy, Available online 17 September 2013, ISSN 0301-4215, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2013.08.079.
