At
its core energy policy seeks to balance concerns for economic
affordability, environmental stability, and security of supply. Other
important considerations include fuel poverty, technology policy, and
international equity. Specific energy technologies raise their own
issues, such as their impacts on local environment. For developed
countries with significant infrastructure: dominant questions surround
the abatement of generating capacity, mitigation of carbon dioxide
emissions, and development/renewal of the existing infrastructure. For
developing countries: questions surround the ability for energy poverty
to be addressed, for additional energy to be made available to areas
that have minimal infrastructure, and the sustainability of such energy
supply.
Research at the Open University considers
several
facets of energy policy. For large-scale infrastructures, policies
surrounding the deployment of new technologies, including: nuclear,
carbon capture and storage, and hydrogen production are of current
interest. For small scale infrastructures: policies surrounding the
development and deployment of biofuels, fuel cells, combined heat and
power, and other micro-generation technologies are of significant
interest to a number of members within the community. More broadly, the
OU addresses energy futures and utilities policy.
Further Information
For
further
information on OU energy policy research, please contact Dr Stephen
Peake (Senior Lecturer in Environmental Technology):