Energy Policy Group

The Energy Policy Group at the University of Exeter provides an academic hub for the interdisciplinary study of energy policy. We place sustainability and change at the heart of debates about energy policy and governance. We work collaboratively with stakeholders and researchers on the economics and politics of energy to find new and innovative approaches for enabling the transition to a low carbon, sustainable and affordable energy system. Find out more about our team, vision and work here. We are part of ExeterEnergy.

Our new thinking...

Thomas Pownall
Electricity market design for a sustainable, secure and efficient electricity system in the UK
January | Presentation to Energy Systems Catapult, Birmingham | Slides 

Rachel Bray and Bridget Woodman 
Barriers to Independent Aggregators in Europe 
January 2019 | Working paper | PDF

Emily Judson
Conceptualising the emerging digital energy landscape 
January 2019 | EPG Blog | Link

Oscar Fitch-Roy, Jenny Fairbrass and David Benson
Ideas, coalitions and compromise: reinterpreting EU-ETS lobbying through discursive institutionalism
January 2019 | Journal of European Public Policy | Link

Jess Britton
The changing role of cities and local energy – does energy system governance need to catch up?
November 2018 | IGov Blog | Link

Helen Poulter
Fuel poverty indicator letting down poorer households
November 2018 | IGov Blog | Link

Lena Kitzing, Oscar Fitch-Roy, Marco Islam and Catherine Mitchell
An evolving risk perspective for policy instrument choice in sustainability transitions
2019 | Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions | Link 

Iain Soutar
We need totalk about (deep) energy democracy
November 2018 | EPG Blog | Link

Catherine Mitchell and Thomas Pownall
Consumer participation and market design issues 
November 2018 | Presentation to OIES, Oxford | Link 

Catherine Mitchell
Blog 2 of Name, Form and Function of Distribution Entities 
October 2018 | IGov Blog | Link

Catherine Mitchell 
Blog 1 of Name, Form and Function of Distribution Entities 
October 2018 | IGov Blog | Link  

Catherine Mitchell 
Issues for GB Energy Policy and the IPCC
October 2018 | Presentation to DTI Energy Engineering, Denmark | Link

Matthew Lockwood
The people's energy networks? Labour's new ownership proposal 
September 2018 | IGov Blog | Link 

Rachel Bray and Bridget Woodman
Unlocking Local Energy Markets - Parallel session paper
September 2018 | BIEE Conference, Oxford | PDF

Jess Britton, Richard Hoggett, Catherine Mitchell and Matthew Lockwood
Governing for a decentralised and decarbonised energy system
September 2018 | IPPR | Link 

Oscar Fitch-Roy, Jenny Fairbrass, David Benson
Exploring the role of policy entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship in 'strange bedfellow coalitions': reinterpreting EU-ETS reform through discursive institutionalism 
September 2018 | Presentation to UACES, Bath | Slides 

Catherine Mitchell
Energy Transformation in a Divided World - Keynote Presentation 
September 2018 | 4th Energy and Society Conference, Exeter | Link

James Suckling, Claire Hoolohan and Iain Soutar 
The importance of studying innovation in complex systems: A case study of anaerobic digestion in the UK
August 2018 | Geographical Directions Blog | Link

Catherine Mitchell
The Lost Strategy and Policy Statement: Is Ofgem Really Working to the 2011 Social and Environmental Guidance? 
July 2018 | New Thinking Blog | Link 

Catherine Mitchell
Intro People Roundtable
July 2018 | Presentation to Citizens Advice, London | Link 

Richard Hoggett
Putting people at the heart of the energy system
July 2018 | Presentation to Citizens Advice, London | Link 

Helen Poulter
Tales of the unexpected: A policy success story
July 2018 | IGov Blog | Link

Richard Hoggett
Multi-level Coordination and Governance in the Energy Revolution
June 2018 | New Thinking Blog | Link

Richard Hoggett
Local energy, multi-level change, and governance 
June 2018 | New Thinking Blog | Link 

Catherine Mitchell
More ambition needed for RIIO2 outputs
June 2018 | New Thinking Blog | Link 

Catherine Mitchell
EV Workshop introduction 
June 2018 | Presentation to Chatham House, London | Link 

Anthony Froggatt
Innovation and Governance to enable a high penetration of electric vehicles 
June 2018 | Presentation to Chatham House, London | Link 

Catherine Mitchell
Challenge to the Government, the Regulator and the monopoly companies: help fix our failed governance system
June 2018 | Presentation to Oxford Energy Colloquia, Oxford | Link

Iain Soutar
Understanding Innovation at the Water-Energy-Food Nexus 
June 2018 | Presentation at the 9th International Sustainability Transition Conference | ‌Slides

Iain Soutar
Energy System Change: Insights for the Circular Economy? 
June 2018 | Presentation at Exeter University | Slides

Anthony Froggatt 
Cracking in reactors should break open the debate on future electricity supply
May 2018 | New Thinking Blog | Link

Matthew Lockwood
Low carbon incentives for network? Yes! But will they work in the current wider governance context? 
May 2018 | New Thinking Blog | Link 

Helen Poulter, Catherine Mitchell and Richard Lowes 
Submission to Ofgems RIIO2 Framework Consultation 
May 2018 | Ofgem Consultation | Link

Catherine Mitchell
Alternative Model - is moving to a DSO the right approach? 
May 2018 | Presentation to Utility Week Live | Link

Richard Lowes, Bridget Woodman and Matthew Clark
Incumbency in the UK heat sector: implications for low-carbon heating.
May 2018 | Working Paper | Link

Oscar Fitch-Roy with Jenny Fairbrass (UEA)
Enabling to ensuring: heat networks as a tool for local re-engagement in energy? 
May 2018 | Book | Link‌

Jess Britton
Enabling to ensuring: heat networks as a tool for local re-engagement in energy? 
May 2018 | International Workshop on Publicly Owned Energy Companies, Edinburgh | Slides

Matthew Lockwood
Innovation and Governance in the British Energy Transition
May 2018 | Presentation to Karlsruhe Institute of Technology | Slides

Catherine Mitchell 
Assessing market arrangements and getting the best deal for users 
April 2018 | Presentation to WEET Forum| Link

Jess Britton
Will the EV future be diverted by a charging let-down?
April 2018 | IGov blog | Link

Claire Hoolohan, Alice Larkin, Carly McLachlan, Ruth Falconer, Iain Soutar, James Suckling, Liz Varga, Ismail Haltas, Angela Druckman, Darren Lumbroso, Marian Scott, Daniel Gilmour, Ralph Ledbetter, Scott McGrane, Catherine Mitchell & Dapeng Yu
Engaging stakeholders in research to address water-energy-food (WEF) nexus challenges
April 2018 | Sustainability Science | Link

Richard Lowes
The heat of the moment
April 2018 | Scottish Renewables blog | Link

Richard Lowes
The RHI: What could you do with £23 billion?
April 2018 | Scottish Renewables Conference | Slides

Richard Lowes
Response to Public Accounts Committee Inquiry into the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI)
March 2018 | Consultation Response | Link

Iain Soutar, Richard Hoggett & Jess Britton
Transforming energy systems: The 4Ds and community energy
March 2018 | University of Exeter | ‌‌

Catherine Mitchell
Smart lessons from states of USA and Australia
March 2018 | BEIS | Link

Helen Poulter
Postcard from Adelaide
March 2018 | Postcards from Australia | Link

Richard Lowes, Bridget Woodman & Oscar Fitch-Roy
Defining incumbency: Considering the UK heat sector
February 2017 | UKERC Working Paper | Link

Richard Lowes, Bridget Woodman & Matthew Clark
A transformation to sustainable heating in the UK: Risks and opportunities for UK heat sector businesses
February 2018 | UKERC Working Paper | Link‌

Jess Britton
Localising Energy: Heat Networks and Municipal Governance
February 2018 | Chapter 26 in Handbook of the International Political Economy of Energy and Natural Resources by A. Goldthau, M.F. Keating & C. Kuzemko (eds) | Link

Helen Poulter
Postcard from Canberra
February 2018 | Postcards from Australia | Link

Catherine Mitchell
The market implications of the Brooklyn Micro Grid
February 2018 | Presentation to I-REMB Advisory Board, Copenhagen | Link

Helen Poulter
Postcard from Sydney
February 2018 | Postcards from Australia | Link

Iain Soutar & Catherine Mitchell
Towards pragmatic narratives of societal engagement in the UK energy system
January 2018 | Energy Research and Social Science | Link

Iain Soutar
Community energy as a site for social innovation                             
January 2018 | Chapter 7 in Social Innovation for Sustainable Consumption by J Backhaus, A. Genus, S. Lorek, E. Vadovica & J.M Wittmayer (eds) | Link

Helen Poulter
The RIIO-ED1 Price Review: Just how successful is RIIO? – Update
January 2018 | New Thinking blog | Link

Matthew Lockwood
The Capacity Market: How did we get here?      
January 2018 | New Thinking blog | Link

Matthew Lockwood
Waiting for the ER P2/6 Review
January 2018 | New Thinking blog | Link

Richard Lowes
Response to the NIC Consultation on National Congestion, Capacity, Carbon: Priorities for national infrastructure
January 2018 | Consultation response | PDF

Catherine Mitchell, Helen Poulter, Matthew Lockwood, Bridget Woodman, Rachel Bray, Richard Lowes, Jess Britton & Richard Hoggett
EPG Submission to the BEIS Call for Evidence on the Helm Review
January 2018 | Consultation response | Link

Catherine Mitchell
Four years after switching, I get my credit back
January 2018 | New Thinking blog | Link

More information about projects can be found on the Exeter Energy website.