Eliciting Stakeholders’ Requirements for Future Energy Systems: A Case Study of Heat Decarbonisation in the UK
It is a truism that whole energy system models underpin the development of policies for energy system decarbonisation. However, recent reviews have thrown doubt on the appropriateness of such models for addressing the multiple goals for future energy systems, in the face of emergent real-world compl...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-10-01
|
| Series: | Energies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/19/7248 |
| _version_ | 1827654603217305600 |
|---|---|
| author | Lai Fong Chiu Robert John Lowe |
| author_facet | Lai Fong Chiu Robert John Lowe |
| author_sort | Lai Fong Chiu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | It is a truism that whole energy system models underpin the development of policies for energy system decarbonisation. However, recent reviews have thrown doubt on the appropriateness of such models for addressing the multiple goals for future energy systems, in the face of emergent real-world complexity and the evolution of stakeholder’s priorities. Without an understanding of the changing priorities of policy makers and expectations of stakeholders for future systems, system objectives and constraints are likely to be ill-defined, and there is a risk that models may be inadvertently instrumentalised. Adopting a system architecture perspective, the authors have undertaken a three-year programme of research to explore strategies for decarbonising heat in the UK, with interaction with and elicitation of needs from stakeholders at its heart. This paper presents the procedure, methods, and results of an exercise in which experts from stakeholder organisations across the energy system were interviewed. Analysis of interview data reveals two broad approaches to heat decarbonisation which can be defined as either adaptive or transformative. Specific insights gained from these interviews enabled our modelling teams to refocus their work for exploration with a wider circle of stakeholders. Results suggests that this iterative approach to formalising model-policy interaction could improve the transparency and legitimacy of modelling and enhance its impact on policy making. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T21:46:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d1e5948c9a9f4dd99436e32c04c61ef0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T21:46:25Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-d1e5948c9a9f4dd99436e32c04c61ef02023-11-23T20:15:40ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732022-10-011519724810.3390/en15197248Eliciting Stakeholders’ Requirements for Future Energy Systems: A Case Study of Heat Decarbonisation in the UKLai Fong Chiu0Robert John Lowe1UCL Energy Institute, University College London (UCL), London WC1H 9BT, UKUCL Energy Institute, University College London (UCL), London WC1H 9BT, UKIt is a truism that whole energy system models underpin the development of policies for energy system decarbonisation. However, recent reviews have thrown doubt on the appropriateness of such models for addressing the multiple goals for future energy systems, in the face of emergent real-world complexity and the evolution of stakeholder’s priorities. Without an understanding of the changing priorities of policy makers and expectations of stakeholders for future systems, system objectives and constraints are likely to be ill-defined, and there is a risk that models may be inadvertently instrumentalised. Adopting a system architecture perspective, the authors have undertaken a three-year programme of research to explore strategies for decarbonising heat in the UK, with interaction with and elicitation of needs from stakeholders at its heart. This paper presents the procedure, methods, and results of an exercise in which experts from stakeholder organisations across the energy system were interviewed. Analysis of interview data reveals two broad approaches to heat decarbonisation which can be defined as either adaptive or transformative. Specific insights gained from these interviews enabled our modelling teams to refocus their work for exploration with a wider circle of stakeholders. Results suggests that this iterative approach to formalising model-policy interaction could improve the transparency and legitimacy of modelling and enhance its impact on policy making.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/19/7248energy policystakeholder requirementsadaptive/transformativeheat decarbonisationenergy system architecture |
| spellingShingle | Lai Fong Chiu Robert John Lowe Eliciting Stakeholders’ Requirements for Future Energy Systems: A Case Study of Heat Decarbonisation in the UK Energies energy policy stakeholder requirements adaptive/transformative heat decarbonisation energy system architecture |
| title | Eliciting Stakeholders’ Requirements for Future Energy Systems: A Case Study of Heat Decarbonisation in the UK |
| title_full | Eliciting Stakeholders’ Requirements for Future Energy Systems: A Case Study of Heat Decarbonisation in the UK |
| title_fullStr | Eliciting Stakeholders’ Requirements for Future Energy Systems: A Case Study of Heat Decarbonisation in the UK |
| title_full_unstemmed | Eliciting Stakeholders’ Requirements for Future Energy Systems: A Case Study of Heat Decarbonisation in the UK |
| title_short | Eliciting Stakeholders’ Requirements for Future Energy Systems: A Case Study of Heat Decarbonisation in the UK |
| title_sort | eliciting stakeholders requirements for future energy systems a case study of heat decarbonisation in the uk |
| topic | energy policy stakeholder requirements adaptive/transformative heat decarbonisation energy system architecture |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/19/7248 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT laifongchiu elicitingstakeholdersrequirementsforfutureenergysystemsacasestudyofheatdecarbonisationintheuk AT robertjohnlowe elicitingstakeholdersrequirementsforfutureenergysystemsacasestudyofheatdecarbonisationintheuk |