Energy Seminar – Week 5: The UK energy demand observatory – how Oxford helps to understand and accelerate changes in energy demand
The way we use energy will have to undergo fundamental changes during the transition towards a net-zero world. Many of the technical solutions are known: insulate homes, electrify heating and transport, deploy smarter, more efficient and flexible appliances. But how well do they work in practice? Tracking the impact requires careful observation and robust control groups.

Oxford leads the technology and social science of a new £8m UKRI investment to establish an energy demand observatory, which will track energy use in real households.

Additional laboratories facilitate scientifically rigorous testing of technologies, policies and other interventions, where the observatory acts as a control group. The data from this programme helps to pinpoint which measures are consistent with our decarbonisation pathways and where further action is required.

Phil’s presentation will show how Oxford and UCL have developed the capabilities for such an observatory over the past decade and what opportunities now lie ahead.
Date: 7 November 2023, 17:00
Venue: Dyson Perrins Building, off South Parks Road OX1 3QY
Venue Details: Place Suite, School of Geography
Speaker: Dr Philipp Grunewald (University of Oxford, Oxford University Centre for the Environment)
Organising department: Environmental Change Institute
Organisers: Karen Parry (Coordinator, Oxford Energy Network), Robin Morris (Oxford Energy Convenor)
Organiser contact email address: info@energy.ox.ac.uk
Host: Robin Morris (Oxford Energy Convenor)
Part of: Oxford Energy Seminars 2023-24
Booking required?: Required
Booking url: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/07b8b97d-4a7d-411f-94b6-1f3887963177@cc95de1b-97f5-4f93-b4ba-fe68b852cf91
Audience: Public
Editors: Robin Morris, Karen Parry