UK innovation support for energy demand reduction

While significant reductions in energy demand can be achieved by deploying existing technologies and management approaches, innovation can unlock further opportunities in the longer term. Research, development and demonstration plays a key role in enabling the development of innovative products and services. Energy efficiency has traditionally accounted for a low proportion of UK public sector energy research and development spend, although funders are now placing an increasing emphasis on the demand side. This paper addresses two questions - what are the priority themes for demand-side research and how should research be conducted and supported in order to maximise the quality of its outputs? It draws on a series of expert workshops organised by the Research Councils UK Energy Strategy Fellowship during the development of its UK energy research and training needs prospectus. The following priority themes for UK energy demand research are identified: system-level and socio-technical perspectives on energy demand; energy use in non-domestic buildings; examination of how large-scale and incremental technological innovations could reduce energy demand. To develop these themes there is a need for interdisciplinary research, field trials, arrangements for data collection and sharing, and raising funding support to levels comparable to those for energy supply technologies.