Scaling up local energy infrastructure; An agent-based model of the emergence of district heating networks
Authored by Catherine S E Bale, Jonathan Busch, Katy Roelich, Christof Knoeri
Date Published: 2017
DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2016.10.011
Sponsors:
United Kingdom Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
United Kingdom Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
Platforms:
No platforms listed
Model Documentation:
Other Narrative
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Model Code URLs:
Model code not found
Abstract
The potential contribution of local energy infrastructure such as heat
networks to the transition to a low carbon economy is increasingly
recognised in international, national and municipal policy. Creating the
policy environment to foster the scaling up of local energy
infrastructure is, however, still challenging; despite national policy
action and local authority interest the growth of heat networks in UK
cities remains slow. Technoeconomic energy system models commonly used
to inform policy are not designed to address institutional and
governance barriers. We present an agent-based model of heat network
development in UK cities in which policy interventions aimed at the
institutional and governance barriers faced by diverse actors can be
explored. Three types of project instigators are included municipal,
commercial and community which have distinct decision heuristics and
capabilities and follow a multi-stage development process. Scenarios of
policy interventions developed in a companion modelling approach
indicate that the effect of interventions differs between actors
depending on their capabilities. Successful interventions account for
the specific motivations and capabilities of different actors, provide a
portfolio of support along the development process and recognise the
important strategic role of local authorities in supporting low carbon
energy infrastructure.
Tags
Agent-based modelling
Infrastructure
systems
Business models
Framework
Protocol
Uk
Transition
Local energy
Heat networks
Local government
Companies