It is vital to develop a framework for an integrated, energy system that is flexible and resilient enough to deal with future challenges of a changing climate, a growing and ageing population, new technologies and renewable energy sources to reduce carbon emissions at a city-scale.
This scoping study will investigate whole energy systems modelling to ascertain its effectiveness and potential for incorporating other sectors: transport, housing, water and waste; to widen its use. To do this we wish to engage people working within different sectors to provide a forum for discussion which will enable us to identify key areas for future improvement, development or transformative change. There can then be a focus on these key areas to achieve resilient integrated energy system of benefit to the whole of society.
Lead research organisation
University of Birmingham (Department of Civil Engineering)
Principle Investigator: Dr Andrew Quinn
See also: Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education
Co-Investigator: Dr John Bryson
See also: City Region Economic and Development Institute
Co-Investigator: Dr Jonathan Radcliffe
See also: Across Scales in Energy Decision-making (ASCEND)
Researcher: Dr Susan Lee
See also: Liveable Cities
Funding
£58,793 (EPSRC)
Research period
May 2017 to February 2018
Workshops
First workshop - 26 June 2017
First Workshop Summary (PDF - 1MB)
Presentation:
First Workshop Presentation (PDF - 1MB)
Second workshop - 25 January 2018
Second Workshop Summary (PDF - 1MB)
Presentations:
Transforming Birmingham - ESC Workshop (PDF - 1MB)
Energy Path Networks in Bury (PDF -1MB)
Infrastructure interdependency at Operation level (PDF - 1 MB)
Publications
Bryson, J., & Kitsos,T. 2017. The economic black hole at the heart of the shift to electric vehicles
Lee, S.E., Quinn, A.D., Bryson, J.R., Radcliffe, J. 2017. Towards the Development of an Energy City Systems Conceptual Framework (presentation only - pdf)
Lee, S.E., Quinn, A.D., Bryson, J.R., Radcliffe, J. 2017. Towards the Development of an Energy City Systems Conceptual Framework (conference paper - pdf) in ISNGI 2017 Conference Proceedings p.242 to 249
Further information
Vision and Ambition
Our vision is to transform the energy system in the UK to ensure that the country is able to function in a low carbon world without compromising the well-being of its people.
Our ambition is to create a holistic, integrated, energy system that is flexible and resilient enough to deal with future challenges of a changing climate, a growing and ageing population, new technologies and renewable energy sources to decarbonise at a city-scale.
Links to the Power and Infrastructure Research Group
Transforming Birmingham forms part of the University of Birmingham's Power and Infrastructure Research Group. The group carries out cutting-edge research that provides sustainable and resilient solutions to some of the complex engineering issues faced by humanity in the 21st century.
Specifically, Transforming Birmingham aligns with our research work in Liveable Cities and iBUILD, both of which sit within the Infrastructure and Built Environment research theme.