Sarah Mander

• BSc, MSc, PhD
• Research Associate at The University of Manchester

A growing policy focus in many economies is decarbonising energy-intensive industries such as steel, chemicals, and cement, responsible for a quarter of global CO2 emissions. While policy discourses underscore the need for rapid, cost-effective industrial decarbonization, how to implement decarbonization in ways that are fair and just to workers an...

This study critically evaluates a BECCS-Hub within the North-West Industrial Carbon Capture cluster using advanced digital twin modelling via the Carbon Navigation System and detailed biomass mapping. It investigates five distinct BECCS supply chains at the Protos site, each reflecting novel configurations that closely align with upcoming BECCS pro...

Under the banner of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7), governments, industry, and civil society organisations have supported many energy access projects since 2015. Notably, funding and investments allotted to renewable energy are regarded not only to provide 'energy for all' but also support the delivery of other SDGs rela...

This paper explores how finance can better support the diffusion of Grassroots Innovations (GIs), community-led solutions for net-zero transitions. We examine the case of UK community energy (CE), across three ‘diffusion pathways’: niche replication (growth in the number of projects), individual scaling (growth in an organisation's scale) and colle...

This paper explores the opportunities for, and progress in, establishing a social licence to operate (SLO) for CCS in industrial clusters in the UK, focusing on the perspectives of key stakeholders. The evolution of narratives and networks relating to geographical clusters as niches for CCS in industrial decarbonisation is evaluated in relation to...

In the context of climate change, global industrialised nations are grappling with transforming energy networks to support a low carbon future. Using an energy justice framework this work aims to understand holistic outcomes of one low-carbon energy network intervention: demand-side response enacted on domestic heat pumps. By exploring participants...

Deep, broad, and rapid society‐wide changes are urgently required to limit global temperature rise in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement. Since 2005, academics and policy makers have increasingly referred to such changes as transformations. This recent uptake and rapid diffusion of transformation‐related concepts in research on climate chan...

Explorations of the longer-term potential for community energy to contribute to the energy transition can shape policy and practice today. However, much community energy research in Great Britain is currently, and understandably, focussed on short-term responses to the crisis in the sector induced by recent shifts in policy support. Therefore, we h...

Scope 3 emissions from the UK higher education sector are globally significant, and long-distance air travel and catering are particularly emissions-intensive aspects of workplace routine. They each present complex problems, as transition to low-carbon alternatives requires the reconfiguration of professional practices. This paper examines the sust...

Involving farmers and local communities in bioenergy development is important for the deployment of sustainable bioenergy systems, especially if rural areas are to maximise potential co-benefits from energy provision. Focusing on rice straw bioenergy in the Philippines and Vietnam, our research explored how farmers’ social networks can serve as a p...

Community energy groups can raise citizen finance for renewable energy projects at lower interest rates than from commercial lenders, but they often depend on price guarantee schemes. Policies providing price stability and business model innovations are needed to realize the sector’s potential contribution to the zero-carbon energy transition. Sche...

Community energy projects take a decentralized and participatory approach to low-carbon energy. Here we present a quantitative analysis of business models, financing mechanisms and financial performance of UK community energy projects, based on a new survey. We find that business models depend on technology, project size and the fine-tuning of oper...

Purpose of Review This paper assesses social science research relating to BECCS and considers the applicability of research on CCS to BECCS. Recent Findings In recent years, social science research on CCS and BECCS has gone beyond an evaluation of public acceptance to provide a more nuanced analysis of the wider social political, ethical, and gove...

This paper addresses the evolution of maritime transport demand in response to global climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts. The complexity of the global shipping system makes predicting volumes and patterns of long-term future international maritime trade a challenging task which is best explored by building scenarios rather than ‘preci...

This UKERC Working Paper seeks to understand the factors contributing to the emergence, growth and nature of community energy in the UK. It is based on a review of existing data and literature, and focuses on investigating the role of financing mechanisms and business models in the evolution of the community energy sector. It argues that, since it...

This chapter explores the potential role of bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) in climate‐change mitigation and the implications of wide‐scale deployment of the technology. The key driver of climate change, and its potential impacts, is the cumulative emissions of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere; the higher the cumulative emission...

This chapter provides an overview of the key conclusions presented in each of the preceding chapters individually. The book introduces the reader to the detailed technical and engineering characteristics of the components of biomass energy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) technologies and builds up through the assessment of integrated BECCS...

This chapter explores some of the social and ethical issues related to the use of BECCS to deliver negative emissions. It considers both the ‘big questions’ related to its potential role in a ‘morally adequate’ response to climate change and the more specific social and ethical issues associated with deployment of the technology on the ground. The...

This chapter presents the broad context and rationale for furthering understanding of biomass energy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) to deliver negative carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions at a global scale. By providing the potential to remove CO2 from the atmosphere while delivering usable energy in the form of electricity (or potentially biof...

Non-technical summary Biomass energy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) is represented in many integrated assessment models as a keystone technology in delivering the Paris Agreement on climate change. This paper explores six key challenges in relation to large scale BECCS deployment and considers ways to address these challenges. Research nee...

This paper explores the interlinkages between energy demand and food-related routines, to understand how routines that benefit energy demand management throughout the food system might be encouraged. Building on existing social science research, focus group data are used to examine the routines of people in three work-life situations; working paren...

Biomass Energy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) is heavily relied upon in scenarios of future emissions that are consistent with limiting global mean temperature increase to 1.5 °C or 2 °C above pre-industrial. These temperature limits are defined in the Paris Agreement in order to reduce the risks and impacts of climate change. Here, we exp...

This paper presents results of empirical research with the broad aim of exploring societal responses to CO2 storage, framed around the concept of social license to operate (SLO). We describe a mixed method approach incorporating stakeholder interviews and focus groups deployed in two case study locations in the UK. The approach helps us to build up...

Projected growth in the international shipping industry is set to outstrip CO2 reductions arising from incremental improvements to technology and operations currently being planned and implemented. Using original scenarios, this paper demonstrates for the first time that it is possible for a nation's shipping to make a fair contribution to meeting...

The rapid growth of photovoltaic (PV) installations in recent years has largely been driven by government incentive schemes that make PV an attractive option for building owners seeking to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and energy costs. As government incentives are reduced or withdrawn the incorporation of battery storage, to lower building...

This paper explores the role and implications of bio-energy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) for addressing the climate change mitigation challenge. Framed within the context of the latest emissions budgets, and their associated uncertainty, we present a summary of the contribution of BECCS within the Integrated Assessment Model (IAM) scenar...

This paper examines the complex ecosystem of organisations involved in the proposed role out of carbon capture and storage (CCS) in the UK. Through analysis of interview and twitter data, it focuses on the flow of knowledge flows within online and offline networks, highlighting how in this case, CCS retains a niche audience, with communication and...

Increasing distributed renewable electricity generation is one of a number of technology pathways available to policy makers to meet environmental and other sustainability goals. Determining the efficacy of such a pathway for a national electricity system implies evaluating whole system change in future scenarios. Life cycle assessment (LCA) and ne...

In 2003, China implemented market-oriented reforms to its electric power industry, aimed at improving the generation efficiency of its thermal power plants. In this paper, we use the polynomial functions, PLS (partial least squares) algorithm, and generation efficiency data from 1993 to 2012 to evaluate the effect of these reforms. Empirical analys...

To guide the adjustment of the electricity policies of the 13th Five-year Plan and the present market-oriented reforms, this paper performs a scenario analysis of the CO2 emissions from China's electric power industry. By using a logarithmic linear equation to explain the relationship between CO2 emissions and their influence factors, a hybrid mode...

The Climate Change Act commits the UK Government to an ambitious 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050; this paper provides a consumer focused framework to devise, inform and evaluate potential interventions to reduce energy demand and emissions in food supply chains. Adopting a Life cycle Assessment (LCA) framing we explore the relatio...

This paper uses three historical trade case studies, oil trade, bulk commodities and containers, to explore and better understand the drivers of shipped trade. This qualitative work explores the relevance of established drivers, such as economic growth, and identifies additional factors which have shaped trade patterns. This work adds a new dimensi...

The latest scientific framing of climate change emphasizes the importance of limiting cumulative emissions and the need to urgently cut CO2. International agreements on avoiding a 2 °C global temperature rise make clear the scale of CO2 reductions required across all sectors. Set against a context of urgent mitigation, the outlook for aviation's em...

Electricity is becoming ever more central to the everyday practices of households. As the energy system decarbonises, it is likely that electricity will supply even more services, thereby increasing the dependence of communities on reliable electricity supply. In this situation, the risk of power outages during extreme weather events poses a seriou...

The key enabler of international trade, shipping is heavily reliant on fossil fuels and responsible for approximately 2% of global carbon emissions. For the sector to reduce its emissions in line with climate change objectives, a wholesale transition is required from the current carbon intensive shipping system to one with a lower climatic impact....

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe research exploring consumer responses to potential changes in food-related practices to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Design/methodology/approach – Six focus groups explored consumer responses to measures to intended to mitigate the emissions from, and adapt to the impacts of climate chang...

Congratulations to those who squeezed Bob Dylan songs into their papers and those involved in the analysis.1 Medical scientists are not the only Bob Dylan fans with a sense of humour—meteorologists and climate impact scientists have one too. …

The impacts of climate change on the energy system are diverse; this article focuses on the potential effects on UK energy demand and the ramifications for national infrastructure building on the findings of the UK's 2012 Climate Change Risk Assessment. It reviews the available literature, where it exists, on the relationships among current energy...

The impacts of climate change on the energy system are diverse; this article focuses on the potential effects on UK energy demand and the ramifications for national infrastructure building on the findings of the UK’s 2012 Climate Change Risk Assessment. It reviews the available literature, where it exists, on the relationships among current energy...

Weather is frequently used in music to frame events and emotions, yet quantitative analyses are rare. From a collated base set of 759 weather-related songs, 419 were analysed based on listings from a karaoke database. This article analyses the 20 weather types described, frequency of occurrence, genre, keys, mimicry, lyrics and songwriters. Vocals...

The relationship between consumers and electricity network operators is changing, as operators move beyond primarily supply side measures to maintain network resilience and seek to incorporate end users through measures including demand side management. Using data from a series of focus groups, which explore social responses to approaches to manage...

The shipping industry expects ongoing growth in CO2 emissions to 2050, despite an apparent recent decline. Opportunities for decarbonizing the sector in line with international commitments on climate change need to be re-evaluated. This article reflects on the 3rd International Maritime Organisation's Greenhouse Gas Study 2014, to explore how the s...

Progress toward decarbonizing shipping has been slow compared with other sectors. To explore the scope for an urgent step-change cut in CO2, this paper presents results from a participatory technology roadmapping exercise. Results: Combining existing incremental and novel technologies with slow-steaming can deliver reductions in CO2 of over 50% eve...

Automated control of consumer electricity loads, or active demand (AD) management, is a key component of many smart grid futures. Within the sociology of expectations, expectations define the future role and responsibilities of actors with respect to a new technology and in so doing set a trajectory for design and development. This paper explores t...

The UK grid has potential for large-scale PV deployment. A prospective consequential life cycle assessment approach is proposed here to investigate the whole-system impacts of a set of future national electricity generation scenarios in which high levels of PV are expected to be achieved by 2035. The scenarios are based on either user-led or networ...

The problem of evaluating the greenhouse gas emissions and energy return on energy invested for an electricity system with a high level of installed PV is discussed and proposed solutions are put forward. A novel consequential lifecycle assessment (CLCA) approach is described that assess the impacts of PV at three distinct but inter-related levels....

GHG budgets highlight a need for urgency, yet analyses are often CO2-focused, with less attention paid to non-CO2. Results: In this paper, scenarios are used to explore non-CO2 drivers and barriers to their mitigation, drawing out implications for CO2 management. Results suggest that even optimistic technological and consumption-related development...

This paper explores the response by members of the lay public to the prospect of an onshore CO2 pipeline through their locality as part of a proposed CCS development and presents results from deliberative Focus Groups held along a proposed pipeline route. Although there is a reasonable level of general knowledge about CO2 across the lay public, und...

Low carbon shipping may be achieved by changes to three core and interconnected elements – through technology developments, changing operational practices and shifts in demand. Technology offers a wide range of options, from incremental efficiency improvements to game changing technologies, such as nuclear or wind propulsion, with the potential to...

ADDRESS is a large scale research project co-funded by the European Community's Seventh Framework Programme for the "Development of Interactive energy networks". It is aimed at developing technical and commercial solutions for the active participation of domestic and small commercial consumers in energy markets, that is the so called active demand...

Since the mid-1990s, the aim of keeping climate change within 2 degrees C has become firmly entrenched in policy discourses. In the past few years, the likelihood of achieving it has been increasingly called into question. The debate around what to do with a target that seems less and less achievable is, however, only just beginning. As the UN comm...

Since the mid-1990s, the aim of keeping climate change within 2 8C has become firmly entrenched in policy discourses. In the past few years, the likelihood of achieving it has been increasingly called into question. The debate around what to do with a target that seems less and less achievable is, however, only just beginning. As the UN commences a...

The ongoing exclusion of aviation and shipping emissions from UK carbon budgets further tests the veracity of the coalition's claim to be the "greenest government ever" say the authors of this Tyndall Centre Briefing Note.

Background: The current UK energy system relies heavily on shipped imports of fossil fuels. As climate change policies drive energy system decarbonization, fuel imports are likely to change. Results: Based upon future energy scenarios devised by the UK’s Department of Energy and Climate Change and a set of contrasting trading assumptions, this arti...

The ADDRESS European project aims to develop a comprehensive commercial and technical framework for the development of “Active Demand” and the market-based exploitation of its benefits. In ADDRESS, “Active Demand” (AD) means the active participation of domestic and small commercial consumers in the electricity markets and in the provision of servic...

This paper is a review of consumer engagement with electricity demand management technologies, with a focus on active demand (AD). We outline different principles and technologies introduced into the market including direct load control with different types of equipment from controlled appliances to comfort control thermostats. The emphasis is on t...

Understanding climate change is pivotal to addressing the global demand for food.Although the extent to which climate change will exaserbate existing stresses or create new challenges is highly uncertain, finidng ways to respond within this context is essential because: a) A delayed response will lead to further accumulations of greenhouse gases an...

Climate change presents shipping with the need to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels. Low carbon technology is considered a crucial element in rising to this challenge, demonstrated at the political level by regulation on the energy efficiency of new-builds. This paper analyses wind power as one category of technology in order to contribute to t...

In recent years debates about public involvement in the decision making process regarding science and technology have been the focus of much debate. This paper uses the deployment of carbon capture and storage technology as a case study to explore both the theoretical and practical reasons why the public need to be consulted on such issues. It conc...

Public perceptions of CCS are seen as crucial in terms of the deployment. Recent opposition to CO2 storage projects, such as Vattenfall’s Schwarze Pump project in northern Germany, demonstrates that addressing public concerns is a crucial factor in securing support for a CO2 scheme. Risk communication will be affected by multiple issues such as the...

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology has been endorsed by the IPCC and the UK government as a key mitigation option but remains on the cusp of wide-scale commercial deployment. Here we present a technology roadmap for CCS, depicted in terms of external factors and short- and long-term pathways for its development, moving from a demonstration...

AbstractThis paper introduces the method of decomposition analysis, and briefly discusses how it has been used in relation to patterns of energy consumption. It then uses decomposition analysis to discuss two radically different scenarios of UK energy use through to 2050, both of which result in a 60% reduction in emissions of carbon dioxide. The r...

This article was submitted without an abstract, please refer to the full-text PDF file.

The aviation sector is in turbulent times. On top of increased security concerns, oil price rises and health scares, it now finds itself at the centre of the climate change debate. Previously highly resilient to short-term ‘shocks’, it remains unclear as to how the aviation sector will respond to persistent and significant pressure to mitigate its...

'Are you going to tell me off for flying?' This question was asked three times by a lady in South Manchester, England, when we asked her to participate in our qualitative in-home study on flying. She asked it once when we approached her in the street to ask if we may interview her. She asked again when we phoned to confirm the time and address of t...

The Tyndall decarbonisation scenarios project has outlined alternative pathways whereby a 60% reduction in CO2 emissions from 1990 levels by 2050, a goal adopted by the UK Government, can be achieved. This paper, Part I of a two part paper, describes the methodology used to develop the scenarios and outlines the motivations for the project. The stu...

This paper describes the Tyndall decarbonisation scenarios, the first to take account of CO2 emissions from the whole of the UK's energy system, including emissions from international shipping and aviation. It builds on Part I, which outlined the backcasting methodology developed to generate the scenarios. The five scenarios produced through this p...

In March 2007, the EU reaffirmed its commitment to making its fair contribution to global mean surface temperatures not exceeding 2 °C above pre-industrial levels. In line with this, the UK Government has laid legal foundations for an emissions cut of 60% by 2050. Whilst 2050 reductions dominate the target-setting agenda, long-term targets do not h...

This paper explores the role of coalition building in the implementation of renewable-energy policy. Applying a discourse analysis framework to wind-energy development in the North West of England, two strong coalitions operating within the wind-energy development arena were identified. By combining this framework with a multicriteria assessment, i...

In 2003, the UK Government adopted a target to reduce carbon emissions by 60 percent by 2050, a longer term commitment than is required under the Kyoto Protocol. Given that increasing low carbon generating capacity is essential to achieve the required carbon reductions, renewable energy policies are a central element of overall climate change polic...

The transition to a low carbon energy system must occur in the context of numerous uncertainties that occur at all scales, from the extent of the carbon reduction required through to the technologies and policies which will bring the reductions about. Against this background, the Tyndall Decarbonisation Scenarios project has sought to develop a new...

There is growing interest internationally in the technology of Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) as a means of accessing the energy contained within inaccessible coal reserves. One of the potential obstacles to UCG deployment is adverse public perceptions and reactions, either stopping or delaying proposed applications. This paper explores the pu...

Presents a range of possible techno-economic and social scenarios of decarbonisation within the UK, including quantitative and qualitative analyses and interpretations.

Achieving a low carbon energy supply in a future society driven by the impacts of climate change will require huge technological changes. This paper compares the methodological implications of assessing two very different technological solutions - renewable energy and geological carbon sequestration. The UK has high renewable resources, in particul...

Note: This paper addresses the Conference question: 'What technological options are there for achieving stabilisation of greenhouse gases at different stabilisation concentrations in the atmosphere, taking into account costs and uncertainties?' Summary The Energy Report of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution recommended that the UK shou...