The electricity system plays a key role in enabling a low energy future. The main goal of this project is to assess the implications of lowering energy demand (and changing temporal patterns) on the cost, flexibility needs and design of a net-zero compatible electricity system. To do this we will further develop and employ highRES, a high spatio-temporally disaggregated model of the UK power system that represents system expansion and operability for highly renewable systems under different system boundary conditions e.g. weather. This will be done in collaboration with the Flexibility theme and is due to start in summer 2025.
Flexible low energy futures
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Themes
Project overview
Key objectives
The aims of this project are to understand the intersection between low energy demand futures, as developed by the Futures theme, and the flexibility needs of net-zero compatible UK electricity systems. In so doing we assess the value of low demand futures in supporting the delivery of net-zero.
Methods and approaches
The flexible low energy futures project brings together a range of approaches to achieve its objectives. High resolution power system planning and operational modelling will be combined with new low energy demand scenarios represented using the whole energy system model UK TIMES and co-created by the Citizens Panel run by the Futures Theme. This blending of electricity/energy systems modelling with deliberative insights helps to ground and benchmark the deliverability of the findings of this project.
Key findings
The project hasn’t started yet
Next steps/Future work
The main research gap that this project is focusing on is the implications for the UK electricity system of a citizen backed low energy future on the cost and flexibility needs of achieving net-zero power.
