The diffusion of low energy innovations is driven by multiple market and non-market mechanisms and involves interactions between consumers, businesses, policymakers and civil society. Information campaigns and financial incentives can play important roles, but the diffusion of more radical innovations requires adjustments in infrastructures, business models, competences, values, cultural discourses and public policies. The inertia and path dependence of existing socio-technical systems obstruct these adjustments and lead to economic, political and discursive struggles. This theme investigates the processes of diffusion for both incremental and radical low-energy innovations, focusing upon the adoption of innovations by users and the associated changes in practices, meanings, infrastructures and policies.
The diffusion of low-energy systems needs to be accelerated to address climate change. What lessons can be learned from historical case studies about the technological, political, cultural and economic actions and mechanisms that accelerate diffusion?
Smart meters have taken on a prominent role in the UK government’s energy demand reduction plans and discourse over the past decade. What expectations have been associated with smart metering roll out and how have they changed over time? How do expectations link with governance?
European countries have seen some low-energy innovations, like district energy systems in Austria, gain popularity. What lessons can be learned from these examples about how to overcome inertia and cause diffusions to accelerate, leading to tipping points and breakthroughs?
Energy service contracts involve the outsourcing of energy-related services to a third party, or contractor. This project aims to identify the factors underpinning successful business models, to identify whether, how and under what conditions such models could diffuse more widely, and to assess their potential for reducing energy demand in order to provide recommendations for public policy.
Senior CIED researchers organised a workshop on ‘Policy Mixes for Sustainability Transitions’ held in Pelham House, Lewes on 1-3 February.
Prof Frank Geels was invited to be a member of the Scientific Committee of the European Environment Agency.
Dr Karoline Rogge gives a presentation at the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on German energy policy.
Dr Florian Kern is interviewed on BBC Sussex Radio and ITV Meridian News about the construction of the first ever offshore wind farm in Sussex.
A new book analysing energy and environmental law and policy features contributions by two Centre on Innovation and Energy Demand researchers.
Paula Kivimaa et al’s paper on ‘Socio-technical transition governance and public opinion: The case of passenger transport in Finland’ is now available for free download.
A recent Financial Times (FT) article ‘Crisis-hit European utilities square up to technological revolution‘, argues that the large utilities have underperformed compared to the broader European equity market and, according to the CEO of RWE, are facing ‘the worst structural crisis in the history of energy supply’. The article reports that some utilities are divesting, …
