Why the energy transition must work for everyone

Vicki Sperrey, Nick Eyre, Uttara Narayan and Sarah Higginson

Newly published research, co-authored by Uttara Narayan, Sarah Higginson and Nick Eyre, from the work on the Centre for Research into Energy Demand Solutions (CREDS), led by the University of Oxford, highlights how the UK’s energy system can disadvantage racialised communities — and why understanding everyday energy use is essential to combatting this.

The research, published in the journal Energy Efficiency, identifies a lack of attention to the energy use experiences of those who are racially disadvantaged, and investigates the role played by structures in contributing to and addressing these disadvantages. It calls for further research about the diverse energy practices and needs of racially disadvantaged people, including the energy services they use, the processes within the energy system that might perpetuate racialized disadvantages, and the ways to practice and sustain anti-racist principles in energy research. It challenges common assumptions about archetypal ‘low carbon energy consumers’ and their implications for energy justice in the pathway to decarbonisation.

Prof Eyre, Director of CREDS and now Emeritus Professor of Energy and Climate Policy, said: “The research was commissioned in response to issues raised by the Black Lives Matter movement, recognising that energy demand researchers have as much of a responsibility as the rest of society to ask what they can do to address racialised disadvantage. With the shocking recent rise in overt racism from some political leaders, this research is ever more important”.

Uttara Narayan, who led the research and analysis said: “We intend for this research to be a conversation starter for the energy community to understand the role of energy systems in shaping and being shaped by the wider social system. It is also a call to action to recognise our responsibility, as energy researchers, towards social justice and what it means to practice anti-racism in our research as we decarbonise our energy systems.”

The majority of energy use research concerns technology. But energy use isn’t just about buildings or technology. It’s shaped by how people live their lives — from how they cook and heat their homes, to how comfortable they feel engaging with energy providers and support services.

The research explores how energy policies, technologies and advice services are often designed around assumptions about a “typical” energy user — someone with flexible working hours, stable housing, digital access, and confidence navigating complex systems. In reality, people’s lives and energy needs are far more diverse.

The study shows that everyday practices, such as cooking familiar meals, living in multi-generational households, or working irregular hours, can lead to different patterns of energy use. These realities are often overlooked in energy policy, which can make it harder for some people to benefit from measures designed to reduce bills or cut carbon emissions.

For example, flexible energy tariffs or smart technologies may not suit households whose energy use is less flexible, or where language barriers, trust, or digital access make systems harder to navigate. Ignoring this risks increasing fuel poverty and limiting access to support for these disadvantaged groups, especially in the context of high energy prices, and may further marginalise them as the energy system decarbonises.

The research also highlights gaps in access to energy advice and support services. People who are unfamiliar with how the energy system works — or who have had negative experiences with institutions in the past — may be less likely to seek help, even when they are entitled to it.

Language barriers and a lack of awareness about available services can further widen inequalities, particularly for recent migrants and asylum seekers.

As the UK accelerates its transition to low-carbon energy — including heat pumps, smart meters and renewable energy communities — the research argues that fairness must be built in from the start.

“If we don’t understand the different ways people use energy and interact with technologies, we risk designing systems that don’t work for large parts of the population,” says Dr Higginson, now Impact and Engagement manager at the Energy Demand Research Centre (EDRC), led out of the University of Birmingham. “That’s not just unfair — it could also slow progress towards net zero.”

The paper also calls for changes in how energy research is carried out, encouraging researchers to work more closely with communities, reflect on power and representation, and move beyond one-size-fits-all assumptions.

By recognising that the energy system is shaped by social as well as technical factors, the authors argue that policymakers, researchers and energy providers can develop solutions that are both more effective and more equitable. This paper is a call to action to start understanding the complexities of racialisation and energy use.

Despite this paper only just being published, the work around it has already had an impact on the energy demand research space. CREDS’ successor, EDRC, has several researchers working in related areas and we look forward to highlighting this work though our Energy Equity Key Messages as it develops.

In the meantime, we invite you to read the full paper in Energy Efficiency: Approaches to address the gap in research on energy use and racialisation in the UK