Category: Low-carbon innovations

Potential Climate Benefits of Digital Consumer Innovations

Posted on Charlie WilsonPosted in Low-carbon innovations, News, Resources

Do digital consumer innovations help reduce carbon emissions? The SILCI team scoured the literature for studies that quantified impacts on activity, energy, or emissions as a result of using digital consumer innovations. They focused on 33 innovations across mobility, food, homes and energy domains – ranging from shared ride-hailing apps and digital farmers’ markets to smart home technologies and ‘demand response’ (domestic appliances temporarily powering down when […]

Social Influence in the Adoption of Low-Carbon Consumer Innovations

Posted on Emma CassarPosted in Events, Low-carbon innovations

Post written by Emilie Vrain   Charlie Wilson and Emilie Vrain from the SILCI team recently presented at the virtual Sunbelt Conference hosted by the International Network for Social Network Analysis. The conference brought together researchers from a wide range of fields all studying the patterns of social interactions and structure. The SILCI team is interested in such social factors as they potentially play an important role for encouraging the adoption […]

Low-carbon innovations for managing the supply and use of energy in homes are likely to remain stuck in early-adopting market segments.

Posted on Hazel PettiforPosted in Low-carbon innovations, News

In a recent review we find that innovations that build on home solar PV generation (e.g., electricity generation and storage, peer to peer electricity trading, vehicle to grid systems) fail to adequately challenge the incumbent model of passively using energy in the home. Their appeal is limited to a reduced set of core and non-core attributes which offer added value […]

Electric vehicles – government targets company fleets

Posted on Hazel PettiforPosted in Low-carbon innovations, News

Hazel Pettifor a senior researcher with the SILCI team reflects on a new government incentive aimed at boosting electric vehicle adoption within company fleets.  From 2020 employees who opt for an EV through their company car scheme pay no benefit in kind (BIK) tax in 2020/21 and a reduced rate for two years following. The company car market remains a primary driver of new registrations for cars accounting for 8-9% of new vehicle registrations in 2018 (Department […]

Distributed & Digitalised Demand – The 3Ds of Clean Energy Transitions

Posted on Charlie WilsonPosted in Low-carbon innovations, News, Resources

Charlie Wilson participated in an online conference hosted by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) as part of the Clean Energy Ministerial process launched alongside the Paris Climate Agreement. Due to take place in Berlin from March 25-27, the ‘International Forum on Long-Term Energy Scenarios’ was hastily converted to a virtual format – one of many […]

Social barriers to the adoption of smart home technologies

Posted on Emma CassarPosted in Low-carbon innovations, News

Post written by Emilie Vrain A recent UK study by the SILCI team investigated the role of social networks and communication behaviours in the diffusion process of smart home technologies. An online survey with over 700 participants (adopters and non-adopters of smart heating, lighting and appliances) revealed potential social barriers to mass market adoption (shown in the image above). Results highlight the need to focus strategies on increasing non-adopters’ exposure to […]

Disruption to meet net-zero

Posted on Emma CassarPosted in Low-carbon innovations, Useful Links

Post written by Emilie Vrain. To reach net zero, rapid changes across society will be needed. A report published by UKERC provides insights into the level of disruption that could be required by various sectors. Extremely relevant to our SILCI project, the report highlights how heat, electricity, transport and construction may need to change to remain competitive and meet future carbon targets i.e. change their business models and operating practices or phase out core assets.    

Making Net Zero Work with Bloomberg New Energy Finance

Posted on Charlie WilsonPosted in Events, Low-carbon innovations

Image Attribution: Bloomberg New Energy Finance Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) is the leading market intelligence and advisory service for the energy industry. Held on Oct 19-20th in the glitz of a Hyde Park hotel, the summit agenda included keynote talks from Claire Perry (former Minister for Climate Change) and Kwasi Kwarteng (current Minister of State in BEIS), as well as a host of […]