Energy demand reduction options for meeting national zero-emission targets in the United Kingdom

Author:

Barrett JohnORCID,Pye SteveORCID,Betts-Davies SamORCID,Broad OliverORCID,Price James,Eyre Nick,Anable Jillian,Brand ChristianORCID,Bennett George,Carr-Whitworth Rachel,Garvey AliceORCID,Giesekam JannikORCID,Marsden Greg,Norman Jonathan,Oreszczyn TadjORCID,Ruyssevelt Paul,Scott KateORCID

Abstract

AbstractIn recent years, global studies have attempted to understand the contribution that energy demand reduction could make to climate mitigation efforts. Here we develop a bottom-up, whole-system framework that comprehensively estimates the potential for energy demand reduction at a country level. Replicable for other countries, our framework is applied to the case of the United Kingdom where we find that reductions in energy demand of 52% by 2050 compared with 2020 levels are possible without compromising on citizens’ quality of life. This translates to annual energy demands of 40 GJ per person, compared with the current Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development average of 116 GJ and the global average of 55 GJ. Our findings show that energy demand reduction can reduce reliance on high-risk carbon dioxide removal technologies, has moderate investment requirements and allows space for ratcheting up climate ambition. We conclude that national climate policy should increasingly develop and integrate energy demand reduction measures.

Funder

RCUK | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Subject

Energy Engineering and Power Technology,Fuel Technology,Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment,Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials

Reference52 articles.

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