ERP 2020 Newsletter

January 20, 2020

The Energy Transition required to meet our Net Zero targets, presents considerable challenges but also substantial opportunities for those countries and individuals determined to address the issues.

During 2019 the ERP ran events, published reports and presented at conferences on topics ranging from the future resilience requirements of our electricity systems, the role of hydrogen in the future energy system, to the increasing importance of local energy systems. This newsletter looks back at the ERP activities carried out during 2019 to help address the 2050 Net Zero challenge.

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The Transition to Low-Carbon Heat

ERP’s report on The Transition to Low-Carbon Heat was published at an event on 11th October 2017. The report and slides from the meeting can be found here.

But it is not a simple choice: each option for heating our homes and businesses has challenges that could limit their deployment. A combination of options is likely to be required; no one option may not dominate, as natural gas currently does. Demand reduction will be an essential part of a cost-effective transition.

The scale of the challenge should not be underestimated. The social aspects are as challenging as the technical. The capital investment means the cost of heating will rise during the transition.

Timing is crucial. Preparations need to begin now, to inform the long investment cycles over the next 30 years.

ERP Industry Workshop on Heat Pumps

March 29, 2017

Industry experts were brought together to identify the key issues affecting the deployment of heat pumps and if there are any low-regret options that could be pursued now. This note provides an overview of the discussion at the meeting. The output will feed into ERP’s Transition to Low Carbon Heat project looking at the broader strategic issues, due to publish in summer 2017.

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Energy Developments

March 16, 2017

On 9 March, ERP hosted an event to seek industry views on DfID’s Energy & Economic Growth (EEG) applied research programme. Simon Cran-McGreehin highlights some of the key discussions.

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ERP February Newsletter

February 9, 2017

How do we transition to a low carbon heating? Should we press on with tidal lagoons? And, what does ‘Industrial Strategy’ actually mean?

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Catching the Tide

February 9, 2017

Should we give tidal lagoons a go? Andy Boston considers the pros and cons and decides, on balance, that yes we should.

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And the Winner is ….

February 9, 2017

Last Newsletter we asked you about potential future work areas for ERP and recorded activity on the website. The chart shows the results.

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What does Cricket have to do with Energy?

November 23, 2016

The recent Energy Utilities Alliance conference, Gas 2016, had an additional appeal for an energy conference – it was held at Lord’s cricket ground! It seems an unusual venue, but the tour of the Pavilion afterwards raised some interesting parallels to the earlier conference discussion.

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Levelised Cost of Fruit

November 23, 2016

The levelised cost of energy production, or LCOE, has served us well. But now it’s time has passed, says Andy Boston. So let’s write its obituary.

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ERP Newsletter – October 2016

October 25, 2016

Including a report of the launch of our new low carbon heat project, thoughts on the Hinkley Point decision, and ERP’s submission to the House of Lords Select Committee inquiry into the economics of energy policy.

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Hinkley. The Price is Right?

October 20, 2016

The decision to proceed with Hinkley has stirred up many passions, for and against, but how expensive is it exactly? A blog from Andy Boston.

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Heat Event

September 21, 2016

The Energy Research Partnership (ERP) will be holding a launch event for our new project on the implementation and implications of options for low-carbon heat.

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Heating Buildings

September 21, 2016

Simon Cran-McGreehin discusses steps for improving the thermal energy efficiency of buildings, ahead of the launch of a new ERP report.

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Grid Services from Wind Generation

September 21, 2016

ERP’s Helen Thomas has just completed her MSc thesis – and says that awareness and communication are by far the biggest barriers to maximising the use of available grid services from wind generation.

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Choices, choices

May 23, 2016

It’s the one thing we are all clear about – our energy system needs to transform. It needs to be affordable, secure and clean, but as soon as we look at the detail then opinions on the best choice differ.

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ERP Newsletter – May 2015

May 20, 2015

The latest issue of the ERP newsletter has been circulated today, Wednesday 20 May 2014. The newsletter provides an insight into the latest work, activities and engagement undertaken by ERP.

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