Sustainability Research (SRI) PhD Projects
The low carbon transition in business strategies for the energy sector
Supervisor: Dr Julia Steinberger
Anthropogenic climate change is recognized as a major threat to human societies, but so far the efforts to address it through policy, regulation, technology and economic incentives have fallen far short. This project ambitiously aims to break the deadlock in the seemingly intractable contradiction between the business operations of energy producers and suppliers and the new configuration necessary for the transition to a low carbon society. Current research is investigating alternative business strategies, such as the energy service company (ESCo) business model which is beginning to be applied in niches, and the potential for multi-utility service companies (MUSCos). This project will build on this work by combining insights from disparate areas of research: (1) the study of socio-technical transitions; (2) the co-evolution of technology and socio-economic institutions; and (3) the field of business strategies. These will form the research basis for investigating the interplay between low carbon efforts and policies (the EU carbon trading scheme, subsidies to renewable energy sources, Green Deal –like initiatives favouring efficiency measures) at national and international levels throughout the EU, and the adaptation, evolution or resistance of existing energy suppliers. It will consist of a top-level EU-wide desk survey, and in depth national case studies of current and potential alternative business strategies for realising low carbon solutions in the UK, Germany, France and other countries. The scope of the study will encompass policy-makers, regulators, energy companies, and large customers of these energy companies.
The goal of this project will be to identify successful and failed cases of transitions in the business strategies of energy suppliers. Its broad sweep will enable an empirical approach and robust recommendations for future low-carbon policies to successfully tackle and integrate energy suppliers.