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Applying solar energy research to the winemaking industry: SOLAR

Summary of the impact

This case study concerns the long term (energy) sustainability of emerging winemaking regions. Underpinning research in energy efficiency and renewable technologies informs the case study in determining energy usage and benchmarks, development of energy guidelines/policy, implementation by national professional bodies and adoption of energy best practice by the local industry. Impact is through the adoption and application of benchmarks by winemaking associations, directly influencing (through policy, regulations and standards) the energy expended in making wine. The study is underpinned by international publishing accolades (Solar Energy `Best Full Length Paper in Photovoltaics', Mondol et al, 2005) and a highly prestigious personal Royal Academy of Engineering Global Research Award to Smyth.

Submitting Institution

University of Ulster

Unit of Assessment

Architecture, Built Environment and Planning

Summary Impact Type

Economic

Research Subject Area(s)

Chemical Sciences: Physical Chemistry (incl. Structural)
Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences: Horticultural Production
Engineering: Environmental Engineering

Shaping government policy on renewable energy feed-in tariffs

Summary of the impact

Dr David Toke's research at the University of Birmingham has contributed to policy made by governments in the UK and EU, and the work and policy of environmentally concerned NGOs. Renewable Energy is a crucial aspect of EU and UK sustainable energy strategies and feed-in tariffs have now become the preferred method of incentivising renewable energy in the UK. Toke made a major contribution to generating this change through his proactive dissemination of research on feed-in tariffs and the publication of a key public policy report, at a time when little was known about this type of policy instrument.

His research has stimulated debate among industry professionals and events organised by him have provided a forum where the industry and NGOs can develop an evidence-based dialogue. Through using popular media to disseminate his research findings, Toke has provided a source for greater public understanding of the related issues, and in particular has challenged the decisions of government. In a broader sense, his research has contributed to improving governmental and financial support for renewable energies in the UK and thus environmental sustainability.

Submitting Institution

University of Birmingham

Unit of Assessment

Politics and International Studies

Summary Impact Type

Political

Research Subject Area(s)

Economics: Applied Economics

Driving innovation and transformation in global energy policy within and beyond government

Summary of the impact

Research undertaken on energy policy and sustainability by Prof. Mitchell and the Energy Policy Group (EPG) within Geography at Exeter, has had a major influence on the development and reform of UK, EU and global energy policy. This research has informed policy advice to the UK government on the fundamental re-setting of electricity market reforms and underpinned a number of major policy reports e.g., the 2008 `EU's Target for Renewable Energy' report; the 2010 `Future of Britain's Electricity Networks' report; the 2011 `Electricity Market Reform' report; the 2012 `Draft Energy Bill'; and the 2012 DECC Energy Security Strategy Report. Research by the EPG has also led to numerous engagements with key stakeholders in the energy industry that have influenced policies, procedures and practices, and been used to inform public debate on energy policy.

Submitting Institution

University of Exeter

Unit of Assessment

Geography, Environmental Studies and Archaeology

Summary Impact Type

Economic

Research Subject Area(s)

Economics: Applied Economics
Studies In Human Society: Policy and Administration

Shaping Energy Efficiency Policy - The Green Deal and Energy Saving Feed-in Tariffs

Summary of the impact

This research has demonstrated the shortcomings of recent changes to UK Government energy efficiency policy, and developed thinking about alternatives, in order to enable governments to provide an effective system of incentives for energy efficiency improvement. Such a system would allow energy sector decarbonisation at a lower cost than with supply side strategies alone. The analysis and concept have both had an impact. In the UK, the team of researchers have secured support from major environmental NGOs, have been included in a UK Government policy consultation, leading to the tabling of an amendment to the 2012 Energy Bill. Internationally, the team's research continues to influence leading policy analysts, including the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Submitting Institution

University of Oxford

Unit of Assessment

Geography, Environmental Studies and Archaeology

Summary Impact Type

Economic

Research Subject Area(s)

Built Environment and Design: Building
Economics: Applied Economics

2: Improving Bioenergy Use and Policy in East Africa

Summary of the impact

PISCES (Policy Innovation Systems for Clean Energy Security) is a research consortium that is concerned with sustainable bioenergy in developing countries. PISCES has improved clean energy access and livelihoods via bioenergy for approximately 250,000 people in Kenya, India, Sri Lanka and Tanzania. The University of Edinburgh contribution reported here is that of Molony, whose research has provided evidence for the creation of improved national policy for energy and development in East Africa, for example enhancing local understandings of charcoal regulation in Kenya, contributing towards the development and uptake of renewable energy cookstoves in Tanzania, and helping establish national bioenergy working groups in both Kenya and Tanzania.

Submitting Institution

University of Edinburgh

Unit of Assessment

Sociology

Summary Impact Type

Environmental

Research Subject Area(s)

Medical and Health Sciences: Public Health and Health Services
Studies In Human Society: Policy and Administration, Sociology

Creating Good Practice in Renewable Wind Energy Policy for a Low Carbon Economy

Summary of the impact

This case study describes the policy impact of research on the deployment of renewable energy in Ireland, the UK and internationally. Three key policy impacts are highlighted;

1) The research has shaped policies underpinning the Republic of Ireland's aim to become a net energy exporter by 2030 and influenced other stakeholders in this field;

2) It has influenced good practice recommended globally by the International Energy Agency on the social acceptance of wind energy;

3) It has generated evidence on the performance of the UK's devolved administrations on renewable energy, which has been deployed in constitutional debates over Scottish Independence.

Submitting Institution

Queen's University Belfast

Unit of Assessment

Architecture, Built Environment and Planning

Summary Impact Type

Environmental

Research Subject Area(s)

Studies In Human Society: Policy and Administration, Sociology

5. Wyndford options appraisal for Cube Housing Association

Summary of the impact

A 2008 `options appraisal' by the Mackintosh Environmental Architecture Research Unit (MEARU) for Cube Housing Association (CHA) impacted directly on practice apropos eliminating `fuel poverty' (energy cost >10% disposable income) and complying with the Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS) — this achieved by a major combined heat and power (CHP) installation linked to thermal upgrading (complete 2012). This tangible impact for CHA in turn helps Scotland to achieve its CO2 reduction targets alongside improved public health. The initial research work by MEARU for CHA followed many years of work with energy efficiency and environmental quality in housing (2 below).

Submitting Institution

Glasgow School of Art

Unit of Assessment

Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Engineering: Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Environmental Engineering
Economics: Applied Economics

Digital Environment Home Energy Management System (DEHEMS)

Summary of the impact

This case study describes the national and international impact of research undertaken by Professor Chao, as part of an EU funded Framework 7 project, Digital Environment Home Energy Management Systems (DEHEMS). The project has improved existing household energy monitoring, tackling the issues of global warming and CO2 emission reduction in the domestic sector. The research has directly contributed to the development of a product called EnergyHive, subsequently marketed by Small to Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) Hildebrand Ltd, who was the industrial partner in the DEHEMS consortium. The research has delivered the following:

  • Economic impact — as a direct result of the research project, Hildebrand Ltd has diversified and entered into an entirely new market;
  • Impact on the environment — home owners, local authorities and energy companies have installed EnergyHive meters which have shown significant energy and carbon dioxide reductions.

Beneficiaries of the research and the subsequent impact include: a commercial business, domestic energy consumers, UK and international energy companies and local authorities.

Submitting Institution

Coventry University

Unit of Assessment

Computer Science and Informatics

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Information and Computing Sciences: Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing, Computation Theory and Mathematics, Information Systems

11 - Test Protocols for Tidal Current Energy Converters

Summary of the impact

The impact is in the ERPE design of protocols which are subsequently used for evaluation and comparison of the performance of tidal energy converter designs. Researchers within the UK Centre for Marine Energy Research (UKCMER) at ERPE have led much of the fundamental and applied research that has supported the commercialisation of tidal energy technologies through the establishment of new international test standards and protocols.

ERPE researchers have regularly provided evidence which has influenced policy change in marine energy development in the UK and internationally with many ERPE graduating PhD's, subsequently employed in the marine energy sector.

Submitting Institutions

Heriot-Watt University,University of Edinburgh

Unit of Assessment

General Engineering

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Engineering: Environmental Engineering, Maritime Engineering, Interdisciplinary Engineering

2. Achieving Greener Building Services in Practice for Europe

Summary of the impact

The work described here has impacted on European policy and standards concerning energy efficiency in Building Services.

The impact arises from two Welsh School of Architecture led and European Commission funded projects, HARMONAC (focussed on inspection of air-conditioning systems) and iSERV (focussed on automatic system monitoring and feedback). These pan-European projects demonstrate achieved energy savings of up to 33% of total building electricity use in individual buildings, and potential savings up to €60Bn. These projects demonstrably impacted the recast European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) and the revision of EU Standards (European Committee for Standardisation (CEN)).

Submitting Institution

Cardiff University

Unit of Assessment

Architecture, Built Environment and Planning

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Mathematical Sciences: Statistics
Built Environment and Design: Architecture, Building

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