EPRG produces world-class academic research on a wide range of energy and environmental policy issues, with a focus on 3 key areas:
1
Economics of electricity and natural gas markets
Research themes
- Electricity market design and competition: analysing the structure and dynamics of electricity markets to promote efficiency, competition and consumer welfare.
- Market interconnection and coupling: exploring the challenges and opportunities of connecting electricity markets across regions and countries.
- Future role of hydrogen: assessing the potential of hydrogen as a clean energy carrier in the transition to a low-carbon economy.
- Global gas market modelling: developing and applying models to understand the behaviour of global natural gas markets.
- Electricity market modelling: creating and utilising electricity market models to inform policy decisions and investment strategies.
- Global LNG markets: analysing trends, dynamics and risks in the global liquefied natural gas LNG market.
- Network regulation and pricing: examining regulatory frameworks and pricing mechanisms for electricity and gas networks.
- Smart grids and meters: exploring the role of smart grid technologies and advanced metering infrastructure in enhancing grid efficiency and consumer engagement.
- Energy storage: assessing the potential and applications of energy storage technologies for grid stability, renewable energy integration and demand response.
- Demand, consumers and communities: understanding consumer behaviour, preferences and responses to energy policies and market signals.
2
Economics of climate change policy, especially carbon pricing and technology policy
Research themes
- Research, development and deployment of low-carbon technologies: investigating the economic and technological feasibility of low-carbon technologies, including carbon capture and storage (ccs), nuclear power and renewable energy sources.
- Net-zero targets, greenhouse gas removal and negative emissions: analysing strategies and policy options for achieving net-zero emissions and exploring the role of greenhouse gas removal (GGR) and negative emissions technologies.
- Emissions trading and carbon pricing: evaluating the effectiveness and design of emissions trading schemes and carbon pricing mechanisms for mitigating climate change.
- Sector coupling: exploring the potential for integrating different sectors, such as electricity, transportation and heating, to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of climate change policies.
- Low-carbon investment: assessing the economic and financial incentives for low-carbon investments across various sectors.
- Competitiveness and climate policy: analysing the impact of climate policies on competitiveness and trade and developing strategies for addressing competitiveness concerns.
- International cooperation and engagement: examining the role of international cooperation and agreements in addressing climate change and promoting low-carbon transitions.
3
Political economy of energy and climate change policy
Research themes
- Energy security and international relations: analysing the interplay between energy security, geopolitics and international relations in the context of energy and climate policy.
- Public attitudes, acceptability and values: understanding public perceptions, attitude and values towards energy and climate change issues, and assessing the factors influencing public acceptance of policy interventions.
- Retail electricity markets and consumer switching: examining the dynamics of retail electricity markets, barriers to consumer switching, and the effectiveness of consumer protection measures.
- Public communication of new technologies: exploring strategies for effective communication of new energy technologies, addressing public concerns, and building trust.
- Processes of governance and decision-making in energy and climate policy: analysing the governance structures, decision-making processes, and institutional arrangements for energy and climate policy.
- Distributional impacts of regulation and energy taxation: assessing the distributional effects of energy regulations, taxes and subsidies, and identifying potential mitigation measures.
Research outputs
EPRG publishes around 30 working papers per year. Our research archive, of 500+ papers since our beginnings in 2002, is accessible. Many of these papers are published as articles in academic journals following peer review.
EPRG researchers have also published a number of edited volumes:
- Handbook on Electricity Markets (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2021)
- In Search of Good Energy Policy (Cambridge University Press, 2019)
- Competition and Regulation in Electricity Markets (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2016)
- The Fall and Rise of Nuclear Power in Britain: A History (UIT Cambridge, 2016)
- The Future of Electricity Demand (Cambridge University Press, 2011)
- Delivering a Low-Carbon Electricity System (Cambridge University Press, 2008)
- Future Electricity Technologies and Systems (Cambridge University Press, 2006)
Since 2005, EPRG has supported the completion of almost 40 Cambridge PhD dissertations on energy and environmental policy issues.