Energy and resource
Research Topic
Language: English
This is a research topic created to provide authors with a place to attach new problem publications.
Research problems linked to this topic
- How many energy production sites will exist and what is the optimum scale they will operate at?
- How can DWP best contribute to net zero by driving reductions in emissions through work and pensions policies, estates and operations?
- Are there health and safety challenges associated with growing industries including the retrofitting of domestic and commercial buildings; installation of low carbon heat solutions & installation of electrical infrastructure for electric vehicles?
- What is needed to ensure that the asset base is robust enough to reduce the
- What evidence is needed about the use of new technologies - e.g. new and emerging energy technologies, use of novel materials, new manufacturing processes, etc. - to develop an appropriate, effective strategy for their better regulation, enabling their rapid and safe introduction?
- How are energy and fuel price trends affecting people's purchasing intentions, attitudes to EVs and driving behaviours?
- Are there risks associated with this new energy landscape and how could they be best controlled? Do co-located technologies pose new hazards and risks? What new hazards arise from how new energy systems are integrated and controlled?
- What will the future industrial asset base look like and what will the key health and safety challenges be?
- Energy and power – Defence is interested in understanding how advances in energy generation and storage and smart materials may promote more efficient energy consumption, reduce logistic footprint, soldier burden and support high power future sensing and weapons systems.
- How can we ensure that new industries such CCS, hydrogen and energy storage are designed with safety and health considerations in mind?
- What are the key drivers / barriers to consumers’ adoption of technology that adds stability for the grid? How do these differ by consumer groups?
- What role does HSE have in assuring the trust of communities in new and emerging technologies in the energy transition?
- How will coronavirus impact on forecasted global peak oil demand? What implications does this have for the transition to renewable resources
- Is there opportunity to transfer knowledge and skills from hydrocarbon technologies to operators of new and emerging technologies in the energy transition?
- What is the UK’s long-term requirement for natural resources from global markets? Which resources are exposed to production/supply risks owing to geopolitical, macro-economic, pandemic, or environment factors and what are the likely impacts of change to the UK economy?
- What are the most cost-effective measures for reducing shipping emissions both domestically and internationally? What are their costs, benefits, risks, technological readiness, and applicability? What are the barriers and other challenges to reducing maritime emissions?
- What are safe speed profiles for trains that optimise capacity, comfort, and energy efficiency?
- What is the role of the consumer in delivering net zero and how can changes be achieved equitably? What are the potential market responses to such changes and how do we avoid unintended consequences?
- How can any key long-term challenges and threats to the current ageing asset base be identified?
- Is there opportunity to transfer knowledge and skills from experienced operators of hydrocarbon sites to a new generation of plant operators assuming responsibility in the energy transition?
- How can the role of human factors in the safe and effective operation of a new energy system be effectively understood?
- How can the UK optimise sustainable growth of biomass for use in power generation (bioenergy) and, with appropriate storage, for removal of atmospheric CO2? How can the negative environmental consequences from biomass production and use (on soil quality, water quality, air quality, and biodiversity) be minimised? What’s the full life cycle analysis for different feedstock? What’s the scalability of different feedstocks within sustainable limits?
- Given the known effects that hydrogen can have on materials how can the long-term performance of hydrogen infrastructure be assured?
- How can the UK manage the impact of additional demand for critical elements and materials, and potential price spikes?