Overview
I worked as a planning policy officer from 1998-2012 during which time I undertook an MA in Town & Country Planning by distance learning. From 2006-2009 I was the senior planning policy officer for Penwith District Council, based in Penzance. I worked on all aspects of policy development for the area, including housing, transport, energy and the environment. I also developed the Council’s Statement of Community Involvement which set out how the Council would engage with local communities over planning issues.
In 2009 with the emergence of Cornwall Council, I became a principal policy officer for the whole of Cornwall. I worked on the Local Development Framework, which set out where development would take place and at what scale within the county.
In 2013 I came to work at Penryn campus for 12 months as the travel plan coordinator. During that time I had responsibility for tendering the Universities bus contract as the previous contract with First was due to expire. I also worked on other schemes promoting sustainable travel for the campus, including electric vehicle charge points and a fleet of electric vehicles for the Estates team. I was shortlisted in the Best Newcomer category for the Green Gown Awards in 2013.
Broad research specialisms:
My particular interests are in all aspects of social policy – affordable housing, social inclusion, fuel poverty, health and crime. I am interested in community engagement and working out how the ‘big pictures’ affect smaller communities.
My current research looks at the policies and regulations governing electricity markets in the UK and seeks to unpick what needs to change to enable the development of a local energy market.
Qualifications
MA Town & Country Planning, BA (Hons) Humanities
Research group links
Research
Research interests
My current research focuses on the Local Energy Markets project which is being led by Centrica in Cornwall. Centrica aims to develop a virtual electricity marketplace to enable the use of flexible demand, generation and energy storage. My research examines the implementation of the trial in the context of existing UK policies and regulations and makes recommendations for change to enable the development of other Local Energy Markets across the UK.
Research projects
Cornwall Local Energy Market
https://www.centrica.com/innovation/cornwall-local-energy-market
Publications
Key publications | Publications by category | Publications by year
Publications by category
Journal articles
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,
118Abstract:
The centre cannot (always) hold: examining pathways towards energy system de-centralisation
'Energy decentralisation' means many things to many people. Among the confusion of definitions and practices that may be characterised as decentralisation, three broad causal narratives are commonly (implicitly or explicitly) invoked. These narratives imply that the process of decentralisation: i) will result in appropriate changes to rules and institutions, ii) will be more democratic and iii) is directly and causally linked to energy system decarbonisation. The principal aim of this paper is to critically examine these narratives. By conceptualising energy decentralisation as a distinct class of sociotechnical transition pathway, we present a comparative analysis of energy decentralisation in Cornwall, South West UK, the French island of Ushant and the National Electricity Market in Australia. We show that, while energy decentralisation is often strongly correlated with institutional change, increasing citizen agency in the energy system, and enhanced environmental performance, these trends cannot be assumed as given. Indeed, some decentralisation pathways may entrench incumbent actors' interests or block rapid decarbonisation. In particular, we show how institutional context is a key determinant of the link between energy decentralisation and normative goals such as democratisation and decarbonisation. While institutional theory suggests that changes in rules and institutions are often incremental and path-dependent, the dense legal and regulatory arrangements that develop around the electricity sector seem particularly resistant to adaptive change. Consequently, policymakers seeking to pursue normative goals such as democratisation or decarbonisation through energy decentralisation need to look beyond technology towards the rules, norms and laws that constitute the energy governance system.
Abstract.
Full text.
Publications by year
2020
Bray R, Woodman B (2020). Cornwall. Local Energy Market - Organisations Survey.
Bray R, Woodman B (2020). Cornwall LEM - Householder Survey Report.
Full text.
Bray R, Woodman B (2020). Cornwall LEM - Householder Survey Report.
Bray R, Woodman B, Judson E (2020). Future Prospects for Local Energy Markets: Lessons from the Cornwall LEM.
2019
Bray R, Woodman B (2019). Barriers to Independent Aggregators in Europe.
Full text.
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,
118Abstract:
The centre cannot (always) hold: examining pathways towards energy system de-centralisation
'Energy decentralisation' means many things to many people. Among the confusion of definitions and practices that may be characterised as decentralisation, three broad causal narratives are commonly (implicitly or explicitly) invoked. These narratives imply that the process of decentralisation: i) will result in appropriate changes to rules and institutions, ii) will be more democratic and iii) is directly and causally linked to energy system decarbonisation. The principal aim of this paper is to critically examine these narratives. By conceptualising energy decentralisation as a distinct class of sociotechnical transition pathway, we present a comparative analysis of energy decentralisation in Cornwall, South West UK, the French island of Ushant and the National Electricity Market in Australia. We show that, while energy decentralisation is often strongly correlated with institutional change, increasing citizen agency in the energy system, and enhanced environmental performance, these trends cannot be assumed as given. Indeed, some decentralisation pathways may entrench incumbent actors' interests or block rapid decarbonisation. In particular, we show how institutional context is a key determinant of the link between energy decentralisation and normative goals such as democratisation and decarbonisation. While institutional theory suggests that changes in rules and institutions are often incremental and path-dependent, the dense legal and regulatory arrangements that develop around the electricity sector seem particularly resistant to adaptive change. Consequently, policymakers seeking to pursue normative goals such as democratisation or decarbonisation through energy decentralisation need to look beyond technology towards the rules, norms and laws that constitute the energy governance system.
Abstract.
Full text.
2018
Bray R, Woodman B, Connor P (2018). Policy and regulatory barriers to local energy markets in Great Britain.
Abstract:
Policy and regulatory barriers to local energy markets in Great Britain
The requirement to decarbonise the GB electricity system, alongside the falling costs of renewable technologies and developments in IT capabilities, provides GB with an opportunity for systemic change in the way that electricity is produced and sold, with the potential to enable
flexibility markets at the local level given the correct regulatory conditions.
The report highlights a range of regulatory and policy barriers to the Local Energy Market (LEM) approach.
Abstract.
Full text.
Bray R, Woodman B (2018). Unlocking Local Energy Markets.
Full text.
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