UCL Energy Institute

Student spotlight: meet Justin 🔎 I’m Justin from Germany, and have just wrapped up an exciting second semester as a student on the Economics and Policy of Energy and Environment MSc at the Bartlett School of Environment, Energy and Resources 🎓 The "Electricity Market Design for the Energy Transition” module concluded an exciting second semester and ranks amongst my favourites during my time at UCL. My colleagues and I visited the Control Room of the National Energy System Operator (NESO) and saw how the UK power system is operated in real-time. During our visit, we met members of the teams that work closely with the Control Room engineers. They explained the key responsibilities of NESO, building on our knowledge of electricity markets and transmission networks, the sequence of services NESO provides and their role in balancing the system. This highlighted the significant challenges associated with the balancing process and operational planning across several time horizons. The trip was an amazing experience that complemented the weekly lectures on theory and subsequent seminars with experts from industry and academia which provided some more practical insights. This combination of theory and practice was an aspect of the course my classmates and I particularly enjoyed. While observing the UK map in the NESO control room, the congested transmission lines and fluctuating system frequency reminded me of the problems of the zonal price model that we covered in class a few weeks prior. This was also discussed in a seminar by a former UCL alumni on the NESO policy team that is working on the Reform of Electricity Market Arrangements (REMA). Learning about the work and experiences of professionals that completed our programme was particularly valuable for my colleagues and I, as it provided insights into future career trajectories in both the private and public sector. On our way back from NESO, I recall some discussions with my classmates about the high share of electricity provided by interconnectors and renewables that we observed while in the Control Room. This made me realise the impact that de-risking financial instruments have had on system evolution so far, which was amongst the key takeaways from the Low Carbon Contracts Company guest lecture on Contracts-for-Difference and Capacity Markets. The need for flexibility and the impact of embedded generation was another point we discussed that made me contemplate the challenges and opportunities variable renewables, flexibility, and electrification bring and their impact on the systems' different levels that speakers from EPEXSpot and UKPN had mentioned. In conclusion, this module provided a holistic theoretical and practical education on electricity markets which I can only recommend to any future students. Learn more about the Economics and Policy of Energy and the Environment MSc: https://bit.ly/4jmjKe9 UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources Catherine W.

All week we are at the International Maritime Organization's MEPC - Marine Environmental Protection Committee 🪼 🛳️ , where member states are negotiating how to action the 2023 IMO GHG strategy - it needs to move forward in achieving absolute GHG emissions reduction targets to net-zero emissions by 2050. I had the chance to speak with Kaylon Young, MSc. from the Acting Ports Commissioner Marine Casualty Investigator at the Belize Ports Authority 🇧🇿. We talked about the effect climate change is having on the shipping sector in the Caribbean, the work being done by the #CaribbeanShippingLanes project, and the importance of the current #MEPC83 negotiations here at the IMO, as well as how this fits in with Belize's national priorities. Watch this space - more to come! Thanks to Jaeda S., Tom Kinnersly Jan Yves Remy, Kerrlene Wills Tianna Blades Nafesha Richardson Shridath Ramphal Centre for Int'l Trade Law, Policy and Services for your hard work. and my team back at UCL UCL Grand Challenges UCL Political Science and School of Public Policy Jane Yelloly Caitlin Mullin UCL Energy Institute The Bartlett, UCL's Faculty of the Built Environment UCL Faculty of Life Sciences Becca Burns Elli Lee Dan Hall James Paskins Sustainable UCL

New study by Foluso O. Agunbiade of University of Lagos, Chinonso Clare Ofodile, James Stewart Marie Fricaudet Dr. Dola O. UCL Energy Institute assesses economic impact of IMO’s candidate GHG reduction measures on Nigeria’s shipping and trade. The analysis shows average cost increase of 4-10% on crucial import and export commodities presenting compliance cost challenges for Nigeria, particularly when considering the combined impact on both vessel operations and cargo transportation. Appropriate revenue generation and distribution mechanisms therefore will be crucial to mitigate the economic impacts. Full report available here: https://lnkd.in/e-SawTVv

Our website just got an upgrade 🌐 With a fresh design, better navigation and improved features, it’s now even easier to learn about our programmes, projects and research. 🔍 Take a tour: https://bit.ly/4jj1ykI #TheBartlett #Innovation #UCL

New opportunity: Research Fellow in Energy and Transport Modelling The Research Fellow will be leading the digital twin modelling related to maritime transport (freight and passenger) decarbonisation as part of a multi-university consortium funded by the UKRI. As part of the team, the post-holder will ensure that a wide range of impactful digital twin research and simulation applications can be implemented by designing and developing appropriate software solutions and architectures, communicating across the diverse specialist TransiT teams to ensure these approaches are accessible and maintainable for all. This role is based in the UCL Shipping and Oceans Research Group within the UCL Energy Institute, led by Dr Tristan Smith and Dr Dr Nishatabbas Rehmatulla. Join us for the opportunity to work in multidisciplinary environments alongside physical scientists, social scientists and economists to achieve joint research goals, as well as supporting MSc programmes and PhD students in the shipping group. 📆 Applications are open until Sunday 27 April 📝 Apply today https://lnkd.in/egd6JUZW

Eid Mubarak to everyone in our community who is celebrating ✨🌙

Last week, I gave a lecture to UCL postgrad energy policy and economics students on the design and evolution of the UK Contracts for Difference scheme on behalf of Low Carbon Contracts Company. The gist of the lecture: 💷 The CfD has rendered renewables cost-competitive, with offshore wind strike prices last year halved compared to 2015. 📈 The scheme has proven its macroeconomic value, functioning countercyclically during Covid (pumping up payments to generators at times of rock-bottom wholesale prices) and the energy crisis (with generators paying back LCCC when wholesale prices rocketed). 🏹 The CfD continuously evolves to accommodate flex and tackle market distortions while delivering new renewable capacity and maintaining robust investor confidence. Special thanks to Nikolaos Chrysanthopoulos for the invitation and my brilliant team Ellen McGrath Omer Ahmad!

Omer Ahmad, Apostolis Valassas and Ellen McGrath from the Policy, Regulation and Business Development team were delighted to deliver a guest lecture at UCL to postgraduate Energy Policy and Economics students. They covered the Capacity Market, Contracts for Difference and the evolving role LCCC is playing in delivering net zero.   Some of the key messages landed were the mission of LCCC to “shape and implement schemes” whilst accelerating the delivery of Net Zero along with our stakeholders such as DESNZ, Ofgem, NESO and EMRS. The students responded with excellent and interesting questions on the future of our schemes a well as trends that we have seen over the past decade.   The policy team looks forward to future knowledge exchange sessions with UCL.

When faculty, students, and alumni come together, powerful ideas take shape. A new book authored and co-edited by Lorenzo Lotti, PhD SFHEA and Lory Barile brings together diverse perspectives from across The Bartlett School of Environment, Energy and Resources and the University of Warwick to reimagine the role of universities in sustainability. ♻️ 🌎 This book explores the evolving and interconnected relationship between higher education and environmental sustainability – a relationship that is neither linear nor one-directional. Through diverse global stories, it invites citizens, academics, and policymakers to reflect on the circular role of higher education in shaping sustainable communities. 🤝 This project was a collaborative effort across BSEER and University of Warwick that brought together faculty, students, and alumni. Contributors from BSEER include: ✅ Lorenzo Lotti, PhD SFHEA (Co-editor, author, and recipient of the Faculty Education Award for Impactful Partnership) ✅ Catherine W., Ben Croxford PhD MEI C.Eng, and Brunilde Verrier (Staff contributors) ✅ BSEER students and graduates, whose experiences shaped four dedicated chapters A special thank you to Professor Justin Dillon (IOE - UCL's Faculty of Education and Society) for his heartfelt and insightful preface, as well as author and co-editor Lory Barile and the many other contributors who made this publication possible. Explore 'The Circular Role of Higher Education: Co-creating Sustainable Communities' 📖 https://lnkd.in/ewDR-CfD