The EPSRC Energy Programme funded DecarboN8 Network Plus announced its first Funding Call at the end of last year.
Applications were encouraged for activities such as:
- Exploratory research studies
- Secondary data analysis
- Comparative case study research
- Inter-disciplinary activities such as workshops
The first round of seedcorn funding has been allocated to the following projects. To read more about each funded project visit the DecarboN8 website.
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CARGO PEDAL: Harnessing the potential of e-cargo bikes for urban sustainable transport
Dr Luke Blazejewski, University of Salford
As cities respond to pressures of development, the reduction of carbon emissions in non-commuting transport continues to pose many logistical challenges. It is essential to understand mobility technologies and practices as well as their societal readiness.
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Leading the way to lower carbon transport: how, when and why do older, more experienced drivers make a change?
Dr Julie Clark, University of the West of Scotland
In preparation for a larger funding bid, the project will identify and test which policy interventions might be most acceptable to older, long-established drivers, in order to generate a robust and place-sensitive methodology for reducing levels of car ownership and use.
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Hydrogen for Sustainable Waterways
Dr Dénes Csala, Lancaster University
The Hydrogen for Sustainable Waterways (H4SW) project aims to investigate the techno economic case for converting diesel powered light watercraft to zero-carbon (fuel cell) or low-carbon (combustion) hydrogen powered units. This is a pre-feasibility study for underpinning a pilot case for submission for future funding to UKRI councils or Innovate UK.
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Understanding and modelling electric vehicle charging behaviour using choice modelling
Dr Trivikram Dokka, Lancaster University
For this smart charging to become efficient and applicable on a mass scale and be fair, proper understanding of charging choices and preferences is required. Understanding the factors that form the basis for charging decisions in terms of time and place will prove extremely useful in better forecasting of EV electricity demand, which in turn enables smart demand management. In this project, we will use choice models to analyse these factors.
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Integrating embodied carbon emissions into northern transport infrastructure scenarios
Dr Jannik Giesekam, University of Leeds
Transforming the North of England requires increased investment in new transport infrastructure whilst meeting ambitious national carbon reduction targets. Data on the carbon emissions from construction and maintenance of infrastructure assets (’embodied emissions’, ‘capital carbon’ or ‘CapCarb’) are routinely gathered during construction projects but not incorporated into the long term modelling and scenario analyses that inform strategic plans as there is no comprehensive single data source for modellers to reference. This project will develop the prototype of an open extendable tool for the modelling.
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Serious Games for Serious Energy Solutions: A Case Study of Diversity for Innovation in Bradford
Dr Zoe M Harris, Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London
The purpose of the study is to develop the methodology for a larger bid to understand ‘what is the baseline level of diversity required to effectively decarbonise the UK energy system?’ We will use the transport sector in Bradford as a case study to test our methodology, and further develop the proposal to cover the whole UK energy sector. Using a ‘serious game’, we will develop and test a methodology to assess the impact of diversity on problem solving and solution innovation.
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Decarbonising Transport with Neighbourhood Plans in Northern England
Dr Caglar Koksal, University of Manchester
Transport is now the largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the UK, with 55 per cent coming from passenger cars. Road transport causes air pollution in urban environments and contributes to traffic congestion, which costs approximately £7.8 billion per year to the UK’s economy. This research uses Carnforth, Lancashire, as a pilot, to establish how the development of planning policies in its neighbourhood plan can contribute to the decarbonisation of local transport.
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Development of a co-designed zero-carbon urban freight system
Dr Daniela Paddeu, University of the West of England
By 2050, 70% of the world population will live in cities. This will generate an increased number of people and freight movements in, between and intro urban areas, resulting in increased carbon emissions. Therefore, city-logistics will play a key role in reducing carbon emissions due to urban goods distribution. The project aims to explore stakeholders’ perspective towards freight systems in order to co-design a series of scenarios to reduce carbon emissions in the North of England, identifying potential drivers and barriers to their implementation.