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Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number EP/K039326/1
Title Whole Systems Energy Modelling Consortium (WholeSEM)
Status Completed
Energy Categories Other Cross-Cutting Technologies or Research(Energy system analysis) 100%;
Research Types Basic and strategic applied research 100%
Science and Technology Fields ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES (Geography and Environmental Studies) 10%;
SOCIAL SCIENCES (Economics and Econometrics) 30%;
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Electrical and Electronic Engineering) 20%;
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Chemical Engineering) 10%;
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering) 20%;
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES (Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences) 10%;
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation Systems Analysis related to energy R&D (Energy modelling) 100%
Principal Investigator Professor N (Neil ) Strachan
No email address given
UCL Energy Institute
University College London
Award Type Standard
Funding Source EPSRC
Start Date 08 July 2013
End Date 07 January 2018
Duration 54 months
Total Grant Value £4,607,765
Industrial Sectors Energy
Region London
Programme Energy : Energy
 
Investigators Principal Investigator Professor N (Neil ) Strachan , UCL Energy Institute, University College London (99.992%)
  Other Investigator Dr R. A Fenner , Engineering, University of Cambridge (0.001%)
Dr JM Allwood , Engineering, University of Cambridge (0.001%)
Dr RA McMahon , Engineering, University of Cambridge (0.001%)
Professor N ( Nilay ) Shah , Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London (0.001%)
Professor G (Goran ) Strbac , Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Imperial College London (0.001%)
Professor GN Gilbert , Sociology, University of Surrey (0.001%)
Dr I Keppo , UCL Energy Institute, University College London (0.001%)
Professor K Richards , Geography, University of Cambridge (0.001%)
  Industrial Collaborator Project Contact , Ofgem (0.000%)
Project Contact , BP International Ltd (0.000%)
Project Contact , National Grid plc (0.000%)
Project Contact , ETI (Energy Technologies Institute) (0.000%)
Project Contact , Committee on Climate Change (0.000%)
Project Contact , Department of Energy & Climate Change (0.000%)
Project Contact , PPA Energy (0.000%)
Project Contact , Baringa Partners LLP (0.000%)
Web Site
Objectives
Abstract Energy models provide essential quantitative insights into the 21st Century challenges of decarbonisation, energy security and cost-effectiveness. Models provide the integrating language that assists energy policy makers to make improved decisions under conditions of pervasive uncertainty. Whole systems energy modelling also has a central role in helping industrial and wider stakeholders assess future energy technologies and infrastructures, and the potential role of societal and behavioural change.Despite this fundamental underpinning role, the UK has not had a national strategic energy modelling activity. Models have been developed on a fragmented, reactive and ad-hoc basis, with a critical shortfall in the continuity of funding to develop new models, retain human capacity, and link modelling frameworks in innovative ways to answer new research questions.The whole systems energy modelling (wholeSEM) consortium is explicitly designed to enable the UK to make an internationally leading research impact in this critical area, and hence to provide cutting-edge transparent quantitative analysis to underpin public and private energy systems decision making. Following a rigorous selection process, the wholeSEM consortium encapsulates leading and interdisciplinary UK capacity in quantitative whole systems energy research.The key aims of the interdisciplinary wholeSEM consortium are:1. Undertake internationally cutting edge research on prioritised energy system topics;2. Integrate whole energy systems modelling approaches across disciplinary boundaries;3. Build bilateral engagement mechanisms with the wider UK energy systems community in academia, government and industry.The wholeSEM consortium will prioritise on key modelling areas of high relevance to interdisciplinary energy systems. Internationally leading research will focus on:1. How does energy demand co-evolve with changes in practice, supply, and policy?2. How will the endogenous, uncertain, and path dependent process of technological change impact future energy systems?3. How can the energy supply-demand system be optimised over multiple energy vectors and infrastructures?4. What are the major future physical and economic interactions and stresses between the energy system and the broader environment?The consortium, will employ extensive integration mechanisms to link and apply interdisciplinary models to key energy policy problems. This will take place across the conceptualisation and development of innovative modelling approaches, model construction, and through an integrated set of use-cases.A key element of the wholeSEM is substantive bilateral engagement with stakeholders in academia, government and industry. Multi-layered integration mechanisms will include:- A high-profile advisory board, with key policy/industry representation plus wider academic experts;- An innovative fellowship programme to enable bi-directional UK academic, policy and industrial and international experts to work with wholeSEM research teams;- A range of workshops including four internationally high profile annual UK energy modelling conferences, technical workshops focused on key modelling issues, and non-technical stakeholder workshops on model conceptualisation, development and use-cases;- Detailed and transparent documentation for all of the consortium's new energy models;- Model access, based on collaborative agreements with an expert model user group. This will ensure best-use of models, accountability and two-way flows of information from/to model developers, users and critics;- Collation and curation of energy modelling data sources (building off and working with the UKERC Energy Data Centre);- Provision of training in modelling techniques and software platforms, to train and develop the next generation of energy systems modellers, including interactions with centres for doctoral training (CDTs); - Interactive web-based information disseminatio
Publications (none)
Final Report (none)
Added to Database 26/09/13