Modelling socio-environmental sensitivities: how public responses to low carbon energy technologies could shape the UK energy system

Moran Jay, Brighid; Howard, David ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4494-7450; Hughes, Nick; Whitaker, Jeanette ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8824-471X; Anandarajah, Gabrial. 2014 Modelling socio-environmental sensitivities: how public responses to low carbon energy technologies could shape the UK energy system. Scientific World Journal, 2014, 605196. 13, pp. 10.1155/2014/605196

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Abstract/Summary

Low carbon energy technologies are not deployed in a social vacuum, there are a variety of complex ways in which people understand and engage with these technologies and the changing energy system overall. However, the role of the public’s socio-environmental sensitivities to low carbon energy technologies and their responses to energy deployments does not receive much serious attention in planning decarbonisation pathways to 2050. Resistance to certain resources and technologies based on particular socio-environmental sensitivities would alter the portfolio of options available which could shape how the energy system achieves decarbonisation (the decarbonisation pathway) as well as affecting the cost and achievability of decarbonisation. Thus, this paper presents a series of three modelled scenarios which illustrate the way that a variety of socio-environmental sensitivities could impact the development of the energy system and the decarbonisation pathway. The scenarios represent risk aversion (DREAD) which avoids deployment of potentially unsafe large-scale technology, local protectionism (NIMBY) that constrains systems to their existing spatial footprint and environmental awareness (ECO) where protection of natural resources is paramount. Very different solutions for all three sets of constraints are identified; some seem slightly implausible (DREAD) and all show increased cost (especially in ECO).

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1155/2014/605196
Programmes:	CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Biogeochemistry > BGC Topic 3 - Managing Threats to Environment and Health > BGC - 3.3 - Deliver effective advice, models and applied science ...
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Parr Shore
ISSN:	1537-744X
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - Official URL provides full text
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment Economics Management
Date made live:	29 Jan 2014 12:01 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/503556

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