Whole Systems Research Last Updated: 30 June 2019
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UKERC – Landscapes – Interdisciplinary Whole Systems Research Last Updated: 30 June 2019 UKERC ENERGY RESEARCH ATLAS: INTERDISCIPLINARY WHOLE SYSTEMS RESEARCH Section 1: An overview which includes a broad characterisation of research activity in the sector and the key research challenges Section 2: An assessment of UK capabilities in relation to wider international activities, in the context of market potential Section 3: major funding streams and providers of basic research along with a brief commentary Section 4: major funding streams and providers of applied research along with a brief commentary Section 5: major funding streams for demonstration activity along with major projects and a brief commentary Section 6: Research infrastructure and other major research assets (e.g. databases, models) Section 7: Research networks, mainly in the UK, but also European networks not covered by the EU Framework Research and Technology Development (RTD) Programmes. Section 8: UK participation in energy-related EU Framework Research and Technology Development (RTD) Programmes. Section 9: UK participation in wider international initiatives, including those supported by the International Energy Agency. Prepared by Dr Antti Silvast, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Department of Interdisciplinary Studies of Culture; Associate Fellow at Durham Energy Institute (DEI) Last Update: 30 June 2019 The information contained in this landscape is a snapshot of activity at the date shown – for the most up-to-date information, the reader is advised to carry out a search of the whole UKERC Research Atlas using the interface at http://ukerc.rl.ac.uk/ This document is provided free of charge. While the UKERC will continue to make every effort to ensure accuracy of information, it cannot be held responsible for any errors; any risks associated with the use of the data remain entirely the responsibility of those downloading it. Users are reminded that they should acknowledge UKERC in all cases where the information is used. UKERC retains copyright of all documents; your use of this information should conform to UK Copyright “Fair Dealing” (http://www.copyrightservice.co.uk/copyright/p27_work_of_others) 1 UKERC – Landscapes – Interdisciplinary Whole Systems Research Last Updated: 30 June 2019 1. Overview Return to Top Characterisation of the field stakeholders are viewed as active collaborators in whole systems research projects and as co-designers of research designs and The concept of whole energy systems refers to research that research outputs. considers all dimensions of energy systems change. It applies insights The landscape collects research initiatives that integrate experts from from different academic disciplines and types of expertise to key academic disciplines (especially between engineering and understand this change. The concept has been especially associated physics, social sciences and economics, and environmental sciences), with UK energy research and development. The UK’s network of which produce research outputs jointly by the members of these academics, the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC), was assigned different disciplines, and which build partnerships between to develop a whole systems approach by the national science funding universities, industries, policy makers, and various other non- organisation Research Councils UK, today’s UK Research and academic stakeholders. The scope will be on the research group or Innovation (UKRI). The UKERC’s focus on whole systems has higher level and therefore individual fellowships have not been corresponded with a wide definition of the energy system as “the set included. The UKERC Research Landscape on Socio-Economic Issues of technologies, physical infrastructure, institutions, policies, and and the UKERC Research Landscape on Energy Systems Modelling will practices located in, and associated with the UK which enable energy contain several initiatives that were not selected to this document, services to be delivered to UK consumers” (UKERC, 2009). though there also are a number of overlaps between these three This landscape document describes major UK research initiatives that landscape documents. have contributed knowledge to interdisciplinary whole systems perspectives. It concentrates on projects that have the following This UKERC Research Landscape was previously published in 2009, characteristics, recognised by a recent review of interdisciplinary then named as Interdisciplinary Research Centres. In this updated whole systems energy research: document, the primary aim has been changed substantively drawing 1. Intellectual diversity: Different academic disciplines draw upon from discussions with senior experts in the UKERC. Ten years ago, diverse data, methods, and forms of proof. Engaging with these the number of new energy centres and networks that cut across diverse knowledge bases is a key aim for interdisciplinary whole standard departmental and faculty structures was already increasing. systems initiatives. Today, the activity around interdisciplinary energy centres and 2. Integrative knowledge production: Interdisciplinary whole networks in the UK has grown so much that its description would no systems initiatives aim at integrating academics from different longer meaningfully fit into a single review. With this in view, the disciplines to develop common research designs and research document concentrates on major funding streams to interdisciplinary outputs. whole systems research in Section 3. It also outlines some of the UK 3. Transdisciplinary knowledge production: The knowledge participation in energy-related EU programmes in Section 8, which production in whole systems initiatives engages non-academic lists selected EU interdisciplinary and whole systems research stakeholders, such as industries, policy makers, wider publics, projects with UK participants. citizens, or technology ‘end users’. The non-academic 2 UKERC – Landscapes – Interdisciplinary Whole Systems Research Last Updated: 30 June 2019 2. Capabilities Assessment Return to Top Not applicable. 3 UKERC – Landscapes – Interdisciplinary Whole Systems Research Last Updated: 30 June 2019 3. Basic and applied strategic research Return to Top This section describes major UK funding streams for interdisciplinary efficiency). Overall, one tenth of the current EPSRC energy research whole systems research. As outlined above, it will focus on initiatives and funding has been granted to whole energy systems research. The table projects whose research combines knowledge bases from various below describes the major recent grants in this area. In addition to the academic disciplines, integrates representatives of different disciplines in EPSRC Research Portfolio, a substantial part of this material was collected knowledge production, and engages non-academic stakeholders as co- from the UKERC Energy Data Centre focusing on major projects that producers of research designs and outputs. address the environmental, social and economic impacts of energy from The primary scope will be on the research funding awarded by the UK’s a whole systems perspective. Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). The EPSRC structures its support to two key themes: Capability, which means long- term disciplinary and multidisciplinary research; and Challenge, which is aimed at addressing global, economic, and societal challenges. Energy is one of the seven Challenge themes. In the current EPSRC portfolio of grants to energy, Whole Energy Systems constitutes the third-largest area, following nuclear fission and end use energy demand (energy 4 UKERC – Landscapes – Interdisciplinary Whole Systems Research Last Updated: 30 June 2019 Table 3.1: Research Funding Funding Stream Funding Description Committed Period Representative Agency funds Annual Spend Decarbonising EPSRC The multidisciplinary network for Decarbonizing £915,858 2019-2022 £305,286 Transport through Transport through Electrification (DTE) will bring Electrification, a Whole together research expertise to address the challenges of System Approach interactions between energy networks, future electric (DTE), Cardiff vehicle charging infrastructure (including roadside University wireless charging, the shift to autonomous vehicles), electric and hybrid aircraft and electrification of the rail network. The DTE network will bring together industry, academia and the public sector to identify the challenges limiting current implementation of an electrified, integrated transport system across the automotive, aerospace and rail sectors. The network will develop and sustain an interdisciplinary team to solve these challenges, leveraging external funding from both public and private sectors, aiming to be become self sustainable in future and growing to establish an International Conference. The network will be inclusive, with a focus EDI and mechanisms to support colleagues such as early career researchers. The DTE network will address low-carbon transport modes (road, rail and airborne) alongside associated electricity infrastructures to support existing and deliver future mobility needs, treating these as an integrated system embedded within the electricity energy vector with the goal of decarbonising the transport sector. It will explore drivers for change within the transport system including technology innovation, individual mobility needs and economic requirements for change alongside environmental and social concerns for sustainability and consider the role, social