Innovation and Policy

The Innovation and Policy Research group analyse the dynamics of innovation in energy systems, especially the relationships between policy, investment and innovation. This combines together expertise on technologies, energy system organisations and institutions, and the wider policy and regulatory context for energy. We apply a range of quantitative and qualitative research tools and methods including roadmapping, innovation systems, energy system modelling and scenarios, and transitions management. The Innovation and Policy Research Group works closely with the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC).

Current Research Areas:

• Techno-economic analysis
• Roadmaps and standards
• Governance and policy
• Innovation systems
• Societal engagement with energy

Techno-economic analysis

Accelerated Technology Development

Mark Winskel, Brighid Moran, Henry Jeffrey & Chiara Candelise

UKERC’s Energy 2050 project (2006-09) explored how the UK can move towards a resilient low-carbon energy system over the next forty years. The project focused on the two primary goals of UK energy policy – achieving a 80 per cent reduction in carbon emissions by 2050, and ensuring that energy is delivered reliably. UKERC researchers from around the UK developed a set of "backcasting" scenarios describing possible future energy systems that are both low carbon, and resilient to external and internal shocks.

As part of the Energy 2050 project, Innovation and Policy Research Group researchers, together with other researchers from across the UK, investigated the prospects for accelerated development of a range of low carbon energy supply technologies, and the impact of this acceleration on the decarbonisation of the UK energy system. The technologies analysed include a number of renewables (marine, bioenergy, wind and solar PV) and also other low carbon options (carbon capture and storage, nuclear power and fuel cells). The research highlights the potentially important role for low carbon supply technology acceleration in the transition to a low carbon energy system in the UK, especially over longer timescales. For more details, see the Accelerated Technology Development report.

Techno-Economic Assessment: Supergen PV21

Chiara Candelise, Mark Winskel

The Supergen PV21 phase II project (2008-2012) focuses on thin-film photovoltaics (PV), the fastest growing PV production technology. The work packages cover aspects of innovative PV research from new materials through to fundamentals of thin film PV materials, "platform" processes for high performance solar cells and consideration of routes to large scale production. The overall objective is to develop thin-film solar cells that will lead to higher conversion efficiency at reduced manufacturing cost.

Chiara Candelise and Mark Winskel at IES, together with Rob Gross from Imperial College, are undertaking techno-economic analysis for PV21. This comprises four strands of analysis: learning curve assessment, engineering assessment, manufacturing systems assessment and market assessment. The research combines these strands together in order to assess the potential for cost reduction for the different technology platforms. This allows consideration of a broad set of economic and market factors influencing uptake of thin-film PV. For more information see www.pv21.org.

Learning Curves and Engineering Cost Assessment

Audrey Mukora, Mark Winskel and Markus Mueller

This PhD study focuses on combining learning curves with engineering assessment and parametric models for improved methods of assessing and managing innovation for emerging energy technologies. Integrating engineering methods and parametric modelling into learning curve analysis involves bringing together potentially complementary approaches so as to build a more complete representation of learning effects for emerging energy technologies, and thereby provide improved data for energy systems modelling and policy support mechanisms for energy system change. The integrated approach discussed here has been applied first to wind turbines, with scope for more emergent technologies such as marine energy to be considered in further work. See:

Mukora, A., et al., ‘Learning Curves for Emerging Energy Technologies’, Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers: Energy, 162, Pages 151-159, November 2009.

Roadmaps and Standards

A significant part of the group's work is in the development of standards that build confidence in technologies as well as 'roadmaps' that demonstrate how a technology sector needs to develop towards commercial success. Key examples include:

Marine Energy Roadmaps
Henry Jeffrey with Dr Markus Mueller in IES, authored the UKERC roadmap for marine energy that has been widely adopted by the sector across Europe, Canada and the USA and is cited as “the most complete, detailed, and relevant information with respect to requirements for meeting the 2020 [renewable energy] target.” Through FREDS (Forum for Renewable Energy Development in Scotland) and it’s MEG (Marine Energy Group), a significant role developing the Scottish marine energy roadmap. The Edinburgh team of Henry Jeffrey, Brighid Moran and David Ingram are leading the road-mapping work-package within the EU FP7 ORECCA (Offshore Renewable Energy Conversion Platforms-Co-ordinated Action) project. Henry Jeffrey chairs the technology road-mapping chapter of the Lord Hunt/DECC marine action plan.

Tidal Energy Device Performance standards
IES are nominated as international coordinators of the IEC Standard for Tidal Energy Device Performance.

Governance and Policy

Governing Decarbonisation in Scotland: Exploring the transitions options

Brighid Moran and Mark Winskel

This research programme is exploring possible policy approaches for Scotland to govern the necessary process of decarbonisation. It draws on case studies of policy approaches being used in countries such as the United States and Denmark but also focuses on transitions theory and transitions policy as found in The Netherlands. The programme is also exploring the potential for sub-national level action to play an important role in decarbonising society; examples of local/community action in the UK such as Sustainable Glasgow and Transitions Edinburgh are being explored.

The programme was developed and managed by a small interdisciplinary group of researchers, with colleagues from the University of Edinburgh (Nils Markusson) and University of Strathclyde (Richard Bellingham); it is supported by the Institute for Advanced Studies and the Scottish Government. For more information see the IAS website

Accelerating the Deployment of Offshore Renewable Energy Technologies

Henry Jeffrey, Brighid Moran, Mark Winskel and Scott Couch

The team has worked on a project for the International Energy Agency RETD on Accelerating the Deployment of Offshore Renewable Energy Technologies.

Innovation Systems

Technological Innovation Systems

Mark Winskel

Building Renewable Energy Innovation Systems (2004-06): This ESRC-funded project, part of the Sustainable Technologies Programme, analysed innovation system development in marine energy (wave and tidal stream) in Scotland and the UK, and identified enablers and constraints in system development. Reviews were carried out of international research on renewable energy innovation systems, and Scottish / UK energy policy. A marine energy industry mapping exercise was then undertaken, leading to over 40 semi-structured interviews. Research papers were developed from interview transcripts. Results were written-up under three themes:

Marine Energy Innovation and Institutional Context
Winskel, M., A. McLeod, R. Wallace, R. Williams (2006) ‘Energy Policy and Institutional Context: Marine Energy Innovation Systems’, Science and Public Policy, Vol. 33, No. 5, 365-376, June 2006

Energy Policy and Multi-Level Governance
Winskel, M., (2007) ‘Multi-level Governance and Energy Policy: Renewable Energy in Scotland’ in J. Murphy (ed.) Governing Technology for Sustainability London. Earthscan, pp182-199

Innovation, Collaborative Learning and Intellectual Property
Winskel, M. (2007) ‘Renewable Energy Innovation: Collaborative Learning and Intellectual Property’. International Journal of Global Energy Issues, Vol. 27, No. 4, 472-491

Societal engagement with energy

Socio-Environmental Sensitivities: Potential for public responses to affect decarbonisation pathways

Brighid Moran

This work, part of the UKERC Energy 2050 project, explores the potential for public responses to energy technologies (based on socio-environmental sensitivities scenarios) to alter the possible pathways to decarbonisation and the implications of this on the energy system and society. This is not typically considered in energy system modelling exercises so by integrating this type of thinking into scenarios in the MARKAL energy system model, this work engages with energy modelling in a novel way. For more information see the UKERC 2050 homepage.

Group Leader

Dr Mark.Winskel