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Transition pathways for a UK low-carbon electricity system: comparing scenarios and technology implications

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 08:53 authored by John Barton, Lloyd Davies, Ben Dooley, Tim FoxonTim Foxon, Stuart Galloway, Geoffrey P Hammond, Áine O’Grady, Elizabeth Robertson, Murray Thomson
The United Kingdom (UK) has placed itself on a transition towards a low-carbon economy and society, through the imposition of a goal of reducing its ‘greenhouse’ gas emissions by 80% by 2050. A set of three low-carbon ‘Transition Pathways’ were developed to examine the influence of different governance arrangements on achieving a low-carbon future. They focus on the power sector, including the potential for increasing use of low-carbon electricity for heating and transport. These transition pathways were developed by starting from narrative storylines regarding different governance framings, drawing on interviews and workshops with stakeholders and analysis of historical analogies. Here the quantified pathways are compared and contrasted with the main scenarios developed in the UK Government’s 2011 Carbon Plan. This can aid an informed debate on the technical feasibility and social acceptability of realising transition pathways for decarbonising the UK energy sector by 2050. The contribution of these pathways to meeting Britain’s energy and carbon reduction goals are therefore evaluated on a ‘whole systems’ basis, including the implications of ‘upstream emissions’ arising from the ‘fuel supply chain’ ahead of power generators themselves.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews

ISSN

1364-0321

Publisher

Elsevier

Volume

82

Page range

2779-2790

Department affiliated with

  • SPRU - Science Policy Research Unit Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2017-11-16

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2017-11-20

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2017-11-16

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