Energy Challenges for Wales: The Flexible Integrated Energy Systems (FLEXIS) ProjectProf Nick Pidgeon Understanding Risk Group and UK Energy Research Centre, Cardiff University

Policy Forum For Wales Seminar – Realising Wales’ Energy Potential, 14 th July 2016

Our energy system is changing

The status quo is:• safe• stressed• cheap • ageing

And, the future could be:• multi-vector• whole system• distributed• flexible• smart

But, change is upon us:• climate change act• society• technology• digital

Which Direction?

Communities, Data, People,

Society, Information

Policy & Regulation

Electricity or multi-vector?

National / Local?

Top Down or Bottom Up?

©2016 Energy Systems Catapult. All rights reserved.

©2016 Energy Systems Catapult. All rights reserved

Slide Source: Philip New, CEO, Energy Systems Catapult ©2016 Energy Systems Catapult. All rights reserved.

The UK’s 5th Carbon Budget•Cross-Party Consensus led to the 2008

Climate Change Act and commits the UK to an 80% cut in emissions by 2050

•Carbon Budgets over 5 year periods

•5th Carbon Budget just agreed by government

Energy Challenges for WalesAgeing Energy and Industrial Infrastructure

Rural and Low Income Populations

Evolving Governance Structures

Rich in Renewable Resources – but can they be exploited fully?

Source: DECC 2014

The Role of People in System Change

• Publics are deeply implicated in how energy systems are shaped and used

Energy producers & consumers

Active proponents & protesters

Citizens with voting powers

What is FLEXIS?What is FLEXIS?• WEFO’s ERDF Programme, Priority Axis 1: Research and Innovation

• Total budget of £24.5 million over 6 years from 2015 (£15.2 million ERDF grant)

• Pan-Wales energy research proposal - East Wales (EW) and West Wales and the Valleys (WWV)

• Main Objective: support to leading-edge energy scientists (including social scientists) and engineers in Wales

• Also delivery of WEFO Cross Cutting Themes

Our energy system is changing

The status quo is:• safe• stressed• cheap • ageing

And, the future could be:• multi-vector• whole system• distributed• flexible• smart

But, change is upon us:• climate change act• society• technology• digital

Which Direction?

Communities, Data, People,

Society, Information

Policy & Regulation

Electricity or multi-vector?

National / Local?

Top Down or Bottom Up?

©2016 Energy Systems Catapult. All rights reserved.

©2016 Energy Systems Catapult. All rights reserved

Slide Source: Philip New, CEO, Energy Systems Catapult ©2016 Energy Systems Catapult. All rights reserved.

• Themes

• Activities can also be classified into

• FLEXIS overarching activities

• Transition to the Low Carbon Future

• Low Carbon Future (including Energy Systems & Carbon Management)

Integrated Energy Networks

Integrated Energy Storage and Generation

Smart Living in the Built

Environment

Fuels and Earth Energy Systems

CROSS CUTTING THEMES

Equality and Diversity Sustainable Development Tackling Poverty

TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION

Flexis Workstream 17: Social Acceptability and Responsible Innovation • Professor Nick Pidgeon

• Professor Karen Henwood • Dr Christopher Groves• Dr Fiona Shirani

Thank You