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The electric vehicle (EV) transition is underway in the UK and many other countries worldwide, switching from fossil fuel powered internal combustion engine (ICE) road transport to EVs that can be powered by renewable electricity. Whilst the projected energy and carbon reduction impacts are well understood, we have only a partial view of the potential socio-macroeconomic effects of the EV transition, i.e. the impacts on GDP and jobs. Common energy-economy models feature only limited energy-economy integration, and only assign a small role for energy in economic growth. Thus whilst economic changes such as increases to investment can feed into macroeconomic impact assessment, the impacts of the energy system changes are potentially underestimated. In response, we use a novel macro-econometric model – MARCO-UK – to conduct a whole system analysis with two main scenarios: an ICE baseline (with no EV transition) and 100% EV transition scenario to 2050. We investigate the effects of the scenarios on the UK's energy system (efficiency, energy services, rebound) and economic system (employment, GDP, debt), under different conditions of investment, rebound and electricity prices. We find the most significant impacts stem from energy system changes, with annual economic growth rising from 1.71%/year (baseline) to 2.25%/year in the main EV scenario. In contrast, the impacts from economic investment changes are much lower in scale. Therefore, the socio-macroeconomic benefits of the EV transition may be underestimated. We also find that overall long-term economy-wide rebound in our central EV scenario is 76%, which means the energy savings from the EV transition may be less than hoped. Overall, our analysis identifies potential trade-offs regarding the labour market, levels of indebtedness, energy rebound and associated carbon emissions that should be taken into consideration. • The energy and socioeconomic impacts of the UK's EV transition are not well known. • We model energy changes to efficiency and fuel switch to electricity. • Most significant impacts stem from energy system change not investment stimulus. • The EV transition could realise an extra 0.5%/yr of GDP growth. • But economy-wide rebound effects reduce energy savings from the EV transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Sustainable energy systems, modelling and simulation concepts are discussed. • Modelling and simulation of energy systems are systematically presented. • The model is applied to a multi-vector industrial cluster case study. • Cluster energy efficiency is a crucial step towards decarbonisation. • Electrification of heat and renewable generation can enable grid island mode. Critical for achieving the United Kingdom's net-zero targets, decarbonising industrial clusters would require robust tools to assess the feasibility of decarbonisation technologies and investment solutions. This paper presents an integrated energy system planning tool for decarbonising industrial clusters. The adoption of the transfer functions method enables the development of individual component models for technologies, networks, and loads, facilitating the control and simulation of complex dynamics in multi-energy system operation, as demonstrated in a case study investigating heat and power demands of a dynamic hybrid cluster, with evaluation of decarbonisation implications including heat electrification, renewables, and fuel switching in both grid-connected and island modes to establish potential pathways for decarbonisation. With the implementation of these decarbonisation measures in the case study cluster, primary energy demand, costs, emissions, and energy losses were reduced by 42%, 71%, 53%, and 72% in grid mode and by 40%, 70%, 53%, and 63% in island mode, and higher losses in island mode is due to excess heat production by electric boilers intended to consume all available power. While outcomes might differ among various clusters due to their specific features, the study cluster, characterised by substantial heat demand compared to electricity and significant electricity exports, achieves significant emission reduction via heat electrification compared to other individual decarbonisation technology. Moreover, this tool will be instrumental in helping industrial clusters formulate comprehensive decarbonisation roadmaps based on informed decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterogeneity is a theme acquiring more and more prominence in the energy economic literature from both a modelling and policy-making perspective. We show that useful empirical evidence on this subject can be obtained by applying a parsimonious multivariate cointegration analysis that makes use of the increasingly available time series data on energy demand. We find that there is substantial heterogeneity in the demand for fuels from UK firms belonging to different subsectors, with price and level of production having different degrees of importance in the fuel choice, and with evidence of both substitutability and complementarity between fuels. Moreover, we show that fuel demand for the industrial sector as a whole is considerably more elastic than most estimates presented in the literature, finding which has direct relevance for policies aimed at influencing industrial fuel consumption through fuel switching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Future decarbonisation of the UK Iron and Steel sector have been evaluated. • The improvement potential of different technological interventions were assessed. • 2050 'technology roadmaps' were also developed for various alternative scenarios. • Best practice technologies will prompt short-term energy and CO 2 emissions savings. • Radical process technology innovations are likely to be available in the longer term. The opportunities and challenges to reducing industrial energy demand and carbon dioxide (CO 2) emissions in the iron & steel sector are evaluated with a focus is on the situation in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK), although the lessons learned are applicable across much of the industrialised world. It is the largest industrial sector in the UK in terms of energy demand and ' greenhouse gas ' (GHG) emissions, and accounts for some 26% of GHG emissions from British industry. Current Best Available Technologies (BAT) will lead to short-term energy and CO 2 emissions savings in iron & steel processing, but the prospects for the commercial exploitation of innovative technologies by mid-21st century are far more speculative. The attainment of significant falls in carbon emissions over the period to 2050 will depend critically on the adoption of a small number of key technologies [e.g., energy efficiency techniques, fuel switching towards bioenergy, and carbon capture and storage (CCS)], alongside the decarbonisation of national electricity supply. The blast furnace is the most efficient energy conversion process in the sector, but also the largest energy user and consequently a priority target for energy demand reduction. Many existing technologies could reduce a significant proportion of process energy loss, e.g., heat recovery at the coke ovens, sinter plant, and electric arc furnace, and further heat and gas recovery from the basic oxygen furnace. The uptake of key BAT technologies for hot-rolling could reduce sector primary energy by 18% and GHG emissions by 12%. Further potential may be available for blast furnace operation by optimising chemical transfer to minimise blast furnace gas (BFG) production. Nevertheless, there are a number of non-technological barriers to the take-up of such technologies going forward. Other radical process technological innovations (such as the 'electrowinning' or so-called HISARNA process) are likely to be available in the longer term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The UK is facing tremendous challenges in tackling food waste diversion from landfill. Whilst much effort has been made to prevent food waste, there is still a lack of attention and strategic approach in dealing with resource recovery and valorisation of food waste. This paper presents a systematic framework for sustainable organic waste management and valorisation in the UK through (i) review of current policy framework; (ii) analysis of resource recovery potential from food waste at national, community and organisational levels; (iii) proposition of alternative waste management strategies; and (iv) examination of challenges and opportunities with respect to economic, environment and social dimensions of sustainability of waste management strategies. The paper explores valorisation of source-segregated food waste and mixed waste from the supermarket and households into electricity and transportation fuels, through partially and completely decentralised configurations using anaerobic digestion and gasification technologies. This study demonstrates a potential for reducing the cost of electricity and greenhouse gas emissions of one supermarket store by 12% when adopting partially decentralised food waste anaerobic digestion strategy, and full substitution of fossil fuel based electricity with net surplus renewable electricity generation through complete decentralisation of mixed waste gasification. Therefore, a more integrated, circular and advanced technological approach in waste management should be undertaken as it can lead to a wider range of socio-economic and environmental advantages to the local community, highly essential in the UK. Image 1 • Valorisation of waste closer to the source promotes resource circularity. • A synergistic approach is robust in addressing challenges in waste management. • Technology and configuration determine the viability of valorisation strategies. • Decentralised waste management enhances community participation. • A supportive fiscal incentive scheme promotes uptake of waste valorisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The results of a study of potential electricity-related GHG emissions reductions at UK off-grid, outdoor events are presented. Electricity consumption data were gathered for over 70 power systems at 18 events between 2009 and 2012. These systems included stages, traders, bars, performers' tour buses and campsite lighting. Results: Electricity-related GHG emissions can be reduced, whilst maintaining energy security, through: specifying more energy-efficient equipment; switching electrical equipment off when not in use; more accurately sizing generators; and fuel switching, either using biofuels or solar photovoltaic electricity. Conclusion: There is potential for electricity-related GHG emissions at temporary off-grid, outdoor events to be reduced by up to 50%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compressor stations play a crucial role in natural gas networks to maintain required pressure levels for transporting gas. Centrifugal compressors commonly used in high pressure gas transmission networks could be driven by gas turbines or electric motors. Including compressor units powered via different fuels in a compressor station allows switching between fuels required by compressors to achieve a set outlet pressure and flow throughput. In this paper, an optimisation model of gas network was developed considering reasonably detailed representation of a compressor station to investigate flexibility provision from the compressor station to the power system. The model was formulated as a mixed integer linear programming (MILP) problem by linearising the nonlinear equations governing gas flow along pipes and compressor power consumption. The model was tested on the gas transmission system in South Wales, UK. The operation of compressors was optimised in response to gas and electricity price subject to meeting operational limits of the gas network. The results showed that the compressors can provide flexibility to the power system through shifting their electricity energy consumption in time or switching between gas- and electric-driven compressor units. It was found that the allowable range for variation of linepack plays a key role in the magnitude and duration of flexibility provision from compressor units. • An optimisation model was proposed for operation of compressors in the gas networks. • Flexibility from coordinated operation of gas- and electric-driven compressor units were quantified. • The value of linepack in providing flexibility to power systems was investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protium Green Solutions has signed deals to collaborate with several partners on developing 'green' hydrogen initiatives in the UK, including applications such as aviation, horticulture and fuel switching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrification of heat will impact demands on power systems, potentially increasing sensitivity to weather variability. We have developed a spatio-temporal methodology for assessing electricity demand in the context of weather variability. We analyse varying levels of electrification of heat in the United Kingdom and simulate local weather impacts with an ensemble of 100 weather realisations. Across the scenarios, the maximum simulated national electricity peak demand doubles compared to today. Assuming current weather pattern, the weather-induced variability in electricity peak is projected to range from 6.1–7.8 GW (10.2–15.2% of mean peak demand) in 2020 to 6.2–14.6 GW (9.8–22.2% of mean peak demand) in 2050. We find that future weather may exacerbate the impact of electrification of heat on peak demand. However, socio-economic uncertainty predominates weather-induced variability. Electrification of heat without reducing heating demands will result in dramatic increases in peak electricity demand as well as increased exposure to weather effects. Regions experiencing a combined increase in peak demand and weather variability will likely prove to be particularly challenging for balancing demand and supply. Switching to alternative fuels such as hydrogen or measures to lower heating demand reduces the need for additional peak electricity capacity as well as mitigating impacts of extreme weather events. • Weather variability is included in a high spatio-temporal energy demand simulation. • Electrification or socio-economic demand uncertainty predominate weather variability. • Electrification of heat increases weather vulnerability and may double peak demand. • Decarbonisation by alternative fuels reduces weather impacts on electricity system. • Regions with combined increases in peak demand and weather variability are mapped. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The UK government has announced £28.2 million (US$36 million) in funding for five projects under its Hydrogen Supply competition, as well as £18.4 million ($23.5 million) for four projects under its Industrial Fuel Switching competition that also target the use of hydrogen as a clean industrial fuel. The awards, from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), are part of a £90 million ($115 million) package to tackle carbon emissions from homes and heavy industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]