Energy Transactions for Non-Traditional Services (EnTraNTS)

Completed

Other Cross-Cutting Technologies or Research(Energy Economics)
Other Cross-Cutting Technologies or Research(Environmental, social and economic impacts)

Basic and strategic applied research

SOCIAL SCIENCES (Economics and Econometrics)
SOCIAL SCIENCES (Business and Management Studies)
SOCIAL SCIENCES (Sociology)
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Electrical and Electronic Engineering)

Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Consumer attitudes and behaviour)
Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Other sociological economical and environmental impact of energy)

Dr M Giulietti
Nottingham University Business School
University of Nottingham

Standard

EPSRC

01 July 2017

31 March 2018

9 months

£41,757

Energy

East Midlands

Energy : Energy

Dr M Giulietti, Nottingham University Business School, University of Nottingham

Dr PN Rowley, Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Loughborough University

Project Contact, Moixa Technology Limited
Project Contact, Nottingham City Council

: Consumer spending on energy increased by 55% by 2012, compared to a decade earlier (ONS, 2014), despite falling energy use (largely in response to price hikes between 2004 and 2009) increased energy efficiency and warmer winters (ONS, 2014; DECC, 2015c). By 2011, energy expenditure constituted around 16% of total spending for the lowest decile of the income distribution, partway returning to the peaks (20%) of the 1980s (IFS, 2014). Although fuel poverty has dropped to 10.6% (in 2014) since the financial crisis (DECC, 2016), high energy prices continue to affect fuel poor and vulnerable consumers the most, causing financial anxiety and uncomfortable living conditions.Our research proposal seeks to investigate why flexibility, functionality and fairness in energy supply systems are unattainable in the traditional 'one-size-fits-all' approach adopted by incumbent energy suppliers. We therefore seek to explore how new and emerging business models can provide these services to all consumers and particularly how technological developments in the industry can be harnessed to address the needs of low-income, fuel poor and vulnerable consumers.Our project will inform key stakeholders and policymakers by helping them to identify the limitations of traditional business models of energy supply and helping to characterise the required features of innovative forms of transaction necessary to support the transition towards a low-carbon, decentralised energy system. Through this project we will build on this foundation by establishing a network of researchers, policymakers, industry and other stakeholders to enhance our understanding of how innovative energy services, community schemes, contractual arrangements and transactions can be used to support the needs of vulnerable energy consumers. Our ultimate goal is to create links between consumer bodies, industrial and political actors in order support a fair and welfare-enhancing transition to a low carbon UK energy system.

17/09/18