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Dr Iain Soutar

Lecturer in Energy and Environmental Policy

3341

Amory C364b

Amory Building, University of Exeter, Rennes Drive, Exeter, EX4 4RJ , UK

Office hours:

Term 3: Tuesdays and Fridays, 10-11am (please email ahead of time to secure a meeting slot).

Overview

I am an environmental social scientist with a wide range of research interests. My research generally focuses on developing a better understanding of innovation and systemic inertia in energy and other complex systems, and the implications thereof for meeting both policy and societal objectives. This currently focuses on the following themes:

Coevolution of social and technological innovation
Digitalisation and democratisation within energy systems
Governing for uncertainty in complex systems
Whole-systems and cross-systems thinking
The water-energy-food nexus

I coordinate the ExeterEnergy initiative, the interdisciplinary network of energy researchers at the University of Exeter. I am also a member of the Energy Policy Group.

Qualifications

2016 PhD (Exeter)
2009 MSc (Cranfield)
2004 BSc (Dundee)

Research group links

Environment and Sustainability

Research

Research interests

I am interested in the drivers and implications of processes of transformation within the energy system. Ongoing social and technological innovation is changing both the structure and the functioning of energy systems around the world. The processes and outcomes of such change can be understood as transformational: they comprise technologies and infrastructures that are fundamentally different in terms of nature, scale and geography, and involve broader, deeper and more dynamic forms of engagement with the society in which they are embedded. My research is concerned with understanding both the factors and the implications of these changes.

Research projects

I am currently working on the EPSRC-funded project ‘Stepping Up’, which seeks to better understand the role of governance in constraining or enabling the scaling up of low-impact innovations across the water-energy-food nexus.

Recent research outputs

Judson E, Fitch-Roy O, Pownall T, Bray R, Poulter H, Soutar I, Lowes R, Connor P, Britton J, Woodman B, et al (2019). The centre cannot (always) hold: examining pathways towards energy system de-centralisation. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 118. Full text

Hoolohan C, Soutar I, Suckling J, Druckman A, Larkin A, McLachlan C (2019). Stepping-up innovations in the water–energy–food nexus: a case study of anaerobic digestion in the UK. Geographical Journal, 185(4), 391-405.

Soutar I (2018) We need to talk about (deep) energy democracy. EPG Blog, 12 November 2018

Suckling J, Hoolohan C & Soutar I (2018) The importance of studying innovation in complex systems: A case study of anaerobic digestion in the UK. Geographical Directions blog, 9 August 2018

Hoolohan C, Soutar I, Suckiling J, Druckman A, Larkin A & McLachlan C (2018) Stepping-up innovations in the water-energy-food nexus: A case study of anaerobic digestion in the UK. The Geographical Journal, July 2018

Soutar I (2018) Energy System Change: Insights for the Circular Economy? Presentation given at a symposium on "Circular Economy Disruptions: Past, Present and Future", University of Exeter, 9 June 2018

Soutar I (2018) Understanding Innovation at the Water-Energy-Food Nexus. Presentation given at the 9th International Sustainability Transition (IST) Conference, Manchester, 12 June 2018

Hoolohan C, Larkin A, McLachlan C, Falconer R, Soutar I, Suckling J, Varga L, Haltas I, Druckman A, Lumbroso D, et al (2018). Engaging stakeholders in research to address water-energy-food (WEF) nexus challenges. Sustainability Science

Soutar I, Hoggett R & Britton J (2018) Transforming energy systems: The 4Ds and community energy. Presentation given a workshop on Community Energy and Regulation, University of Exeter, 23 March 2018

Soutar I & Mitchell C (2018). Towards pragmatic narratives of societal engagement in the UK energy system. Energy Research and Social Science 35, January 2018

Soutar I (2017) Community energy as a site for social and technological innovation. Chapter 7 in J. Backhaus, A. Genus, S. Lorek, E. Vadovics & J. Wittmayer (eds) Social Innovation and Sustainable Consumption: Research and Action for Societal Change. Routledge, London

Soutar I (2017) Five fallacies of innovation, and what they mean for understanding the nexus. Stepping Up blog, Sept 2017

Soutar I (2017) Conditions for transformation in the water-energy-food nexus. Presentation given at Transformations 2017: Transformations in Practice, Dundee: 30 August – 1 September

Haltas I, Suckling J, Soutar I, Druckman A & Varga L (2017). Anaerobic digestion: a prime solution for water, energy, and food nexus challenges. 1st International Conference on Sustainable Energy and Resource Use in Food Chains, Berkshire: 19-20 April 2017

Soutar I (2017) Diversity and complexity at the nexus: Reflections from China. Stepping Up blog, August

Soutar I (2017) Balancing diversity and coherence in innovation space-making at the water-energy-food nexus. Presentation at Energy-water-climate change nexus (EWCN) in a transitional economy: sustainability and resilience. 22-26 May 2017, Nanjing University, Jiangsu, China

Soutar I (2017) Nexus-relevant innovations: Insects as a novel source of protein. Stepping Up Blog: 30th January 2017

Soutar I & Mitchell C, 2017. Towards pragmatic narratives of societal engagement in the UK energy system. Presentation at AAG Annual Meeting, 6 April 2017: Boston, USA.

Soutar I. Keeping up with the costs of energy system change. Presentation to Yealm Community Energy, March 2017

Soutar I & Mitchell C (2016) Grappling with Wickedness: The articulation of WEF nexus governance in the UK. Presentation at RGS Annual Conference, September 2016: London

Soutar I (2016). Nexus-relevant innovations: Anaerobic digestion. Stepping Up Blog: 19th September 2016

Soutar I. (2016) From local to global value: The transformational nature of community energy. PhD Thesis. University of Exeter

Woodman B, Soutar I & Mitchell C. (2016) Response to Environmental Audit Committee’s inquiry into role of Treasury in relation to Sustainable Development.

Soutar I (2015) Forget the ‘trilemma’ – tackling the fourth challenge of inertia is the key to unlocking a sustainable energy future. New Thinking Blog, 12th January, 2015

Soutar I. (2015) The role of social capital in energy systems transformation: Insights from community energy. Paper presented at SCORAI Workshop on ‘Beyond transition? Understanding & Achieving Sustainable Consumption through Social Innovation, Vienna, November 2015

Soutar I (2015) Social capital: a key ingredient of energy system transformation. EPG Blog, 16th June, 2015

Kuzemko C, Britton J, Soutar I & Woodman B. (2015) Written response: Inquiry into A smarter energy future for Wales.

Soutar I (2015) The strategic importance of democratising energy. EPG Blog, 8th October, 2015

Soutar I. (2015) The use (and abuse?) of evidence in the development of the UK Community Energy Strategy. Talk given at the GSI Conference: The interface between sustainability research and policy. Anglia Ruskin University, 26-27 Jan 2015

Kuzemko C, Britton J, Hoggett R, Mitchell C, Soutar I. & Steward T. (2015) Ofgem Consultation Response: NTBMs: Supporting transformative change in the energy market.

Soutar I (2014) Notes for an energy policy resolution. EPG Blog, 14th January, 2014

Soutar I. (2014) Is small-scale beautiful (and how beautiful?): Understanding the role of community energy within the wider UK energy system. Talk given at Norwich Conference on Earth Systems Governance, 1-3 July 2014, UEA

Soutar I. (2014) Moving the immovable: Is community energy a system changer? Energy Policy Group Seminar, Jan 2014, Penryn, UK

Soutar I & Whiting J (2013) Energy Security Policy in Britain: Markets, Complexity and Challenges. In Mitchell, C.; Watson, J. and Whiting, J. (eds.) New Challenges in Energy Security: The UK in a Multipolar World, Palgrave Macmillian

Soutar I, Hoggett R, Devine Wright P & Fudge S. (2013) Submission by the Energy Policy Group and Environment and Sustainability Research Group of the University of Exeter to the Call for Evidence concerning a Community Energy Strategy.

Soutar I. (2013) Evidencing value and the value of evidence: What role for small-scale energy in the UK? Poster presented at the UKERC Summer School, 6-11 July 2013, Warwick University

Soutar I. (2013) What role for small-scale energy? Understanding the value of challenging large-scale lock-in. Talk given at Facing the Future Symposium, 10-12 April 2013, Dundee

Soutar I (2013) Honesty amid complexity: What role for evidence in energy policy?. EPG Blog, 2nd September, 2013

Rowan JS, Carwardine J, Duck RW, Bragg OM, Black AR, Cutler MEJ, Soutar I & Boon PJ, 2006. Development of a technique for Lake Habitat Survey (LHS) with applications for the European Union Water Framework Directive. Aquatic Conservation-Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 16, 637-657.

Publications

Key publications | Publications by category | Publications by year

Publications by category

Journal articles

The information, practices and views in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG). © 2018 the Authors. The Geographical Journal published by John Wiley. &. Sons Ltd on behalf of Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers). Grand societal challenges such as climate change, poverty and biodiversity loss call for rapid and radical changes to systems of production and consumption. Consequently, there is a growing interest in the dynamics of innovation, both social and technical, to accelerate innovation diffusion so as to increase the possibility of a step-change or large-scale transition. Research on the water–energy–food nexus adds an additional dimension to existing discussions, calling for transitions that recognise the sustainability challenges facing three major resource domains, and the synergies and tensions involved in their management. This paper examines anaerobic digestion (AD) – an example of innovation with potential benefits across the water–energy–food nexus – to understand the conditions that influence the rate of AD implementation and the achievement of its potential multi-sectoral benefits across the water–energy–food nexus. Interview data regarding 15 AD plants are examined alongside complementary data from interviews and workshops using the Technological Innovation Systems framework. This framework provides an analytical structure through which the processes that enable and constrain the implementation of AD in the UK can be examined, enabling the identification of potential mechanisms to support AD's wider and more effective deployment. The findings call for recognition of the unintended consequences of sectoral support mechanisms for technological adaptation, and consequent performance of AD in other resource domains and call for greater integration between policy mechanisms to enable AD to perform across the nexus. They also highlight a need to assimilate knowledge from multiple sources (including site-specific understanding gained from experimentation) to enhance the base on which policy and decision-making occurs. These findings contribute to existing literature on sustainable transitions by examining the complexities of multi-sectoral resource management in the context of nexus research.

Abstract. Full text.

Hoolohan C, Larkin A, McLachlan C, Falconer R, Soutar I, Suckling J, Varga L, Haltas I, Druckman A, Lumbroso D, et al (2018). Engaging stakeholders in research to address water–energy–food (WEF) nexus challenges. Sustainability Science, 13(5), 1415-1426. Abstract. Full text.

Soutar I, Mitchell C (2017). Towards pragmatic narratives of societal engagement in the UK energy system. Energy Research and Social Science, 35, 132-139. Abstract. Full text.

Chapters

Soutar I (2018). Community Energy as a site for Social Innovation. In Backhaus J, Genus A, Lorek S, Vadovics E, Wittmayer J (Eds.) Social Innovation and Sustainable Consumption: Research and Action for Societal Transformation.

Britton J, Soutar I (2013). Energy Security Policy in Britain: Markets, Complexity and Challenges. In Mitchell C, Watson J, Britton J (Eds.) New Challenges in Energy Security the UK in a Multipolar World, Palgrave Macmillan, 68-91. Abstract.

Soutar I, Whiting J (2013). Energy security policy in Britain: Markets, complexity and challenges. In Mitchell C, Watson J, Whiting J (Eds.) New Challenges in Energy Security: the UK in a Multipolar World, London: Palgrave MacMillan.

Conferences

Soutar I (2018). Circular Economy Disruptions: Past, Present and Future. Circular Economy Disruptions: Past, Present and Future. 8th - 10th Jun 2018. Abstract. Author URL.

Haltas I, Suckling J, Soutar I, Druckman A, Varga L (2017). Anaerobic digestion: a prime solution for water, energy and food nexus challenges. Abstract.

Soutar I (2015). The role of social capital in energy systems transformation: Insights from community energy. SCORAI workshop: ‘Beyond’ Transition? Understanding & Achieving Sustainable Consumption through Social Innovation. Abstract. Author URL.

Publications by year

2019

Abstract. Full text.

2018

Soutar I (2018). Circular Economy Disruptions: Past, Present and Future. Circular Economy Disruptions: Past, Present and Future. 8th - 10th Jun 2018. Abstract. Author URL.

2017

Haltas I, Suckling J, Soutar I, Druckman A, Varga L (2017). Anaerobic digestion: a prime solution for water, energy and food nexus challenges. Abstract.

Soutar I, Mitchell C (2017). Towards pragmatic narratives of societal engagement in the UK energy system. Energy Research and Social Science, 35, 132-139. Abstract. Full text.

2016

Soutar I (2016). From local to global value: the transformational nature of community energy.

The UK energy system has in the past been characterised by the ownership and control of large-scale supply technologies by corporate entities. It has become apparent however that such structures are ill suited to addressing contemporary energy challenges of decarbonisation, energy security and affordability. Moreover, their resistance to change means that the current system is fundamentally inconsistent with the need for energy system change.
the advent of affordable renewable energy however, particularly at small-scale, offers new prospects for addressing these energy challenges. In particular, they present an opportunity for greater societal engagement in the energy system, not least as owners and managers of energy assets, but also as stakeholders with interest and influence in the energy system more generally. Within the context of greater citizen engagement in energy, community energy has developed in the UK as an organised means for “collective action to purchase, manage and generate energy” (DECC, 2014b). Such collective action is complimented by progressively broad engagement by individuals in the energy system as investors and prosumers, rather than solely consumers. This thesis responds to a need to better understand the role and value of community energy, and wider societal engagement more generally, within the wider energy system.
Taking a mixed-methods approach, this thesis contends that community energy has the potential to have significant impacts at both local and national scales. Social, economic and environmental impacts of a specific community energy project are evidenced to illustrate the breadth and scale of potential impacts at the local level. Broader analysis of the community energy movement, and of ‘small-scale energy’ more generally is suggestive of the potential for such approaches to be transformative in terms of overcoming system inertia. In particular, the energy system is undergoing a process of democratisation, whereby power, wealth and value is gradually distributed among society. A key role for policymakers then is to consider the strategic importance of democratisation.

Abstract. Author URL.

2015

2013

Iain_Soutar Details from cache as at 2020-07-10 20:25:07

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External Engagement and Impact

Administrative responsibilities

I co-founded, and coordinate ExeterEnergy, an interdisciplinary network of 140+ energy researchers at the University of Exeter

Committee/panel activities

External reviewer for several energy-related MSc programmes for Universities of Oxford and Sussex

Editorial responsibilities

I am a regular reviewer for Environment and Planning A; Energy Research and Social Science; Energy Policy; Energies; Science and Culture; Energy Sources Part B: Economics, Planning and Policy

Teaching

Modules

2019/20

Supervision / Group

Postgraduate researchers

Emily Judson: Governing energy system digitalisation for decarbonisation
Helen Poulter: Adaptive governance for energy system transformation: A case study of the National Electricity Market in Eastern Australia
Thomas Pownall: Re-designing electricity markets for a high-renewable future

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