Modelling transport energy demand: A socio-technical approach

Despite an emerging consensus that societal energy consumption and related emissions are not only influenced by technical efficiency but also by lifestyles and socio-cultural factors, few attempts have been made to operationalise these insights in models of energy demand. This paper addresses that g...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Energy policy 2012-02, Vol.41 (1), p.125-138
Main Authors: Anable, Jillian, Brand, Christian, Tran, Martino, Eyre, Nick
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alternative fuel vehicles
Carbon emissions
Economic models
Economic security
Electric power
electricity
emissions
Energy
Energy consumption
Energy policy
Environment
Life styles
lifestyle
Lifestyles
Modelling
Power demand
Social change
social factors
Socio-technical scenarios
Studies
supply balance
Technical efficiency
Technological change
Technology
Transport
Transport energy modelling
Transportation
United Kingdom
vehicles (equipment)
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Summary:Despite an emerging consensus that societal energy consumption and related emissions are not only influenced by technical efficiency but also by lifestyles and socio-cultural factors, few attempts have been made to operationalise these insights in models of energy demand. This paper addresses that gap by presenting a scenario exercise using an integrated suite of sectoral and whole systems models to explore potential energy pathways in the UK transport sector. Techno-economic driven scenarios are contrasted with one in which social change is strongly influenced by concerns about energy use, the environment and well-being. The ‘what if’ Lifestyle scenario reveals a future in which distance travelled by car is reduced by 74% by 2050 and final energy demand from transport is halved compared to the reference case. Despite the more rapid uptake of electric vehicles and the larger share of electricity in final energy demand, it shows a future where electricity decarbonisation could be delayed. The paper illustrates the key trade-off between the more aggressive pursuit of purely technological fixes and demand reduction in the transport sector and concludes there are strong arguments for pursuing both demand and supply side solutions in the pursuit of emissions reduction and energy security.
ISSN:0301-4215
1873-6777
DOI:10.1016/j.enpol.2010.08.020