Local Energy Business and Financial Practices

Synthesising, extending, mapping and sharing empirical evidence about the UK’s existing local energy system businesses and finances.

The research

Data analyses will inform development of next generation business models and financing, with the aim of contributing to clean, affordable and resilient energy systems and local prosperity. We are focussing on:

• Generating a snapshot of the sector’s current state through developing a new energy companies database containing financial and business information, using quantitative methods and analysis.
• Exploring emerging and potential innovations in business models and financing options. Using survey methods we are gathering data to define a taxonomy of UK local energy business and financial structures. We are also developing workshops to generate qualitative insights about future business models.

The project involves Professor Jan Webb and Dr Fabian Fuentes Gonzalez (Heat and the City, University of Edinburgh), Dr Matt Hannon, Strathclyde University and Dr Maria Sharmina, Manchester University and is part of the Energy Revolution Research Consortium.

The Consortium contributes to the UK Industrial Strategy Challenge: Prospering from the Energy Revolution, through informing demonstrator projects, undertaking analysis and evaluation, building best practice and leading knowledge exchange with policy, academic and industrial communities.

Our first working paper is now available:

Characterising a local energy business sector in the United Kingdom: participants, revenue sources, and estimates of localism and smartness

Net zero localities: ambition & value in UK local authority investment

Mags Tingey and Jan Webb recently undertook research to bring together the latest evidence on UK local authority ambition on net zero.

The report provides analysis of the multiple societal benefits from investing in UK localities and regions to meet net zero carbon objectives.