FAR out? An examination of converging, diverging and intersecting smart grid futures in the United Kingdom

Nazmiye Balta-Ozkan; Tom Watson; Peter M. Connor; Colin J. Axon; Lorraine Whitmarsh; Alexa Spence; Philip E. Baker

doi:10.1016/j.erss.2020.101675

FAR out? An examination of converging, diverging and intersecting smart grid futures in the United Kingdom

Nazmiye Balta-Ozkan, Tom Watson, Peter M. Connor, Colin J. Axon, Lorraine Whitmarsh, Alexa Spence, Philip E. Baker

Department of Psychology

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Abstract

We describe a novel application of the field anomaly relaxation (FAR) method of scenario construction to the complex problem of smart grid development. We augment the FAR methodology with extensive expert input through all four steps to incorporate detailed knowledge of the technical, economic and policy issues relevant to informing scenarios for smart grid development in the United Kingdom. These steps inform scenarios useful to policymakers, regulators and the energy industry. We found this extended method to be flexible and reliable. Analysis of smart grid development yielded seven dimensions, allowing for portrayal of a complex and informed set of scenarios. The expert input and feedback identified branching points allowing switching between scenarios – a powerful dynamic feature to assist policy development for a fast-changing technological and regulatory landscape.

Original language	English
Article number	101675
Journal	Energy Research and Social Science
Volume	70
Early online date	7 Jul 2020
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2020.101675
Publication status	Published - 1 Dec 2020

Funding

This research was funded as part of the research programme of the UK Energy Research Centre , supported by the UK Research Councils under Natural Environment Research Council award NE/G007748/1 and NE/J005975/1. Additional support was received from Horizon Digital Economy Research, RCUK grants (EP/G065802/1) and (EP/M02315X/1). We would like to acknowledge and thank summer intern Matt Schmoldt at Policy Studies Institute at the University of Westminster for his support during this research. Thanks also to our advisory panel and additional experts who volunteered their time and input into the FAR development at several stages of the project.

Keywords

Energy scenario
FAR method
Field anomaly relaxation
Participatory scenario
Scenario development
Smart grid scenario

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Nuclear Energy and Engineering
Fuel Technology
Energy Engineering and Power Technology
Social Sciences (miscellaneous)

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.erss.2020.101675

FAR out preprint.PDFAccepted author manuscript, 970 KBLicence: CC BY-NC-ND

Cite this

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abstract = "We describe a novel application of the field anomaly relaxation (FAR) method of scenario construction to the complex problem of smart grid development. We augment the FAR methodology with extensive expert input through all four steps to incorporate detailed knowledge of the technical, economic and policy issues relevant to informing scenarios for smart grid development in the United Kingdom. These steps inform scenarios useful to policymakers, regulators and the energy industry. We found this extended method to be flexible and reliable. Analysis of smart grid development yielded seven dimensions, allowing for portrayal of a complex and informed set of scenarios. The expert input and feedback identified branching points allowing switching between scenarios – a powerful dynamic feature to assist policy development for a fast-changing technological and regulatory landscape.",

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AU - Spence, Alexa

AU - Baker, Philip E.

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FAR out? An examination of converging, diverging and intersecting smart grid futures in the United Kingdom

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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