Energy and Climate Change

Head of Research Area: Luis Mundaca

Energy and Climate Change are strongly interlinked and research in this area is an essential component for advancing sustainable solutions. Energy is critical to human development and acts as a fundamental link between the challenges encompassing sustainable development. However, scientific evidence is emerging on an almost daily basis regarding the negative impact of energy production and consumption on the health of both human beings and ecosystems. Human-induced climate change can be taken as a remarkable example. Within this context, the search for a green energy, sustainable energy systems, higher energy security, rapid uptake of low-carbon technologies represent significant and urgently needed changes in our socio-economic and technical system.

The group’s research takes place at the interface between policy and science, with a strong focus on policy evaluation (ex-ante or ex-post). We conduct independent and comprehensive policy analyses to accelerate the transition towards a more sustainable low-carbon economy. Within this field, we aim to further improve knowledge, policies and expertise to effectively respond and support policy-making processes and innovative business ideas and practices. Present research at the IIIEE concentrates on several themes including, among others:

Policy analysis and evaluation
IIIEE Researchers assess potential and empirical effects of energy and climate change policy instruments targeting clean energy technologies. Our research studies future impacts and verifies expected outcomes. Our studies provide policy recommendations to improve the design and implementation of policy instruments. We focus on the use, application and development of different methods for policy evaluation. We acknowledge that there is no-single best for policy evaluation so what is often needed is a portfolio of methods in order to provide a comprehensive understanding of the scope, dynamics, complexities, and, thereby, effects of policy instruments.
Contacts: Luis Mundaca, Lena Neij, Carl Dalhammar, Brian Cloughley

Green energy economy
IIIEE Researchers analyse policies and strategies that can increase resource efficiency, create jobs, promote successful businesses, and bring about attractive investment opportunities, while at the same time reducing GHG emissions and maintaining or improving natural capital through the expansion of clean energy production and consumption.
Contacts: Luis Mundaca, Brian Cloughley, Lena Neij, Tareq Emtairah

Learning technological environments
We analyse enabling processes, learning environments, cost reduction paths of low-carbon technologies (supply- and demand-side) of energy systems; including their financial performance. Particular attention is paid to building technologies, and solar and wind-energy technologies.
Contacts: Lena Neij, Bernadett Kiss, Lars Strupeit, Alvar Palm 

Energy efficiency in Buildings and Industry
IIIEE Researchers study the potential pathways for improved energy efficiency in buildings. Our analysis is focused on market barriers, transaction costs, policies fostering innovation and energy efficient houses, mechanisms for financing renovations of existing buildings, policy  for solar cities and  innovative governance strategies for city planning. 
Contacts: Lena Neij, Bernadett Kiss, Nora Smedby, Carl Dalhammar

Bio-energy systems
IIIEE Researchers investigate the implementation of bio-energy systems, including bio fuels for transport and the bio-refinery concept, focusing on governance and policy issues. The role of communication and stakeholder involvement in the emerging bio-economy is a focus area.
Contacts: Philip Peck, Kes McCormick

Models and Scenarios
IIIEE Researchers analyse, use and further develop energy-economy-environment (E3) models and scenarios to study and better support policy-making from a multidisciplinary perspective.
Contacts: Luis Mundaca, Lena Neij

 

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