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Improvising innovation in UK urban district heating: The convergence of social and environmental agendas in Aberdeen

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  • Webb, Janette

Abstract

Research on district heating has focused on technical-economic appraisal of its contribution to energy and carbon saving in urban centres. There is however lack of analysis of political and social processes which govern its actual take up. This paper examines these processes through a case study of Aberdeen, Scotland. Interviews and documentary analysis are used to examine the 2002 development of Aberdeen Heat and Power (AHP), an independent energy services company (ESCo). Technical-economic feasibility was a necessary component of appraisal, but not sufficient to govern decision-making. In the UK centralised energy market, DH investment is unattractive to commercial investors, and local authorities lack capacity and expertise in energy provision. In Aberdeen, the politics of fuel poverty converged with climate politics, creating an a-typical willingness to innovate through improvisation. The welfare priority resulted in creation of a non-profit locally-owned ESCo, using cost- rather than market-based heat tariffs. AHP has developed three combined heat and power energy centres and heat networks, supplying 34MWh/pa of heat. Carbon savings are estimated to be 45% in comparison with electric heating, and heating costs are reduced by a similar amount. The conclusion outlines potential policy improvements.

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  • Webb, Janette, 2015. "Improvising innovation in UK urban district heating: The convergence of social and environmental agendas in Aberdeen," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 265-272.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:78:y:2015:i:c:p:265-272
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2014.12.003
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    Cited by:

    1. Bush, Ruth E. & Bale, Catherine S.E. & Taylor, Peter G., 2016. "Realising local government visions for developing district heating: Experiences from a learning country," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 84-96.
    2. Paiho, Satu & Hoang, Ha & Hukkalainen, Mari, 2017. "Energy and emission analyses of solar assisted local energy solutions with seasonal heat storage in a Finnish case district," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 147-155.
    3. Köhrsen, Jens, 2018. "Exogenous shocks, social skill, and power: Urban energy transitions as social fields," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 307-315.
    4. Tingey, Margaret & Webb, Janette, 2020. "Governance institutions and prospects for local energy innovation: laggards and leaders among UK local authorities," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).

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