Energy Challenges for Wales: The Flexible Integrated
Energy Systems (FLEXIS) Project
Prof Nick Pidgeon
Understanding Risk Group and UK Energy Research Centre, Cardiff University
Policy Forum For Wales Seminar – Realising Wales’ Energy Potential, 14th
July
2016

Our energy system is changing
The status quo is:
• safe
• stressed
• cheap
• ageing
And, the future could be:
• multi-vector
• whole system
• distributed
• flexible
• smart
But, change is upon us:
• climate change act
• society
• technology
• digital
Which
Direction?
Communities,
Data, People,
Society, Information
Policy
& Regulation
Electricity
or multi-
vector?
National /
Local?
Top Down or
Bottom Up?
©2016 Energy Systems Catapult. All rights
reserved.
©2016 Energy Systems Catapult. All right
Slide Source: Philip New, CEO, Energy Systems Catapult
©2016 Energy Systems Catapult. All rights reserved.

The UK’s 5th
Carbon Budget
• Cross-Party Consensus led to the 2008 Climate
Change Act and commits the UK to an 80% cut
in emissions by 2050
• Carbon Budgets over 5 year periods
• 5th
Carbon Budget just agreed by government

Energy Challenges for Wales
Ageing Energy and Industrial Infrastructure
Rural and Low Income Populations
Evolving Governance Structures
Rich in Renewable Resources – but can they be
exploited fully?
Source: DECC 2014

The Role of People in System Change
• Publics are deeply implicated in how energy systems are shaped and used
Energy producers & consumers
Active proponents & protesters
Citizens with voting powers

What is FLEXIS?What is FLEXIS?
• WEFO’s ERDF Programme, Priority Axis 1: Research and Innovation
• Total budget of £24.5 million over 6 years from 2015 (£15.2 million ERDF
grant)
• Pan-Wales energy research proposal - East Wales (EW) and West Wales and
the Valleys (WWV)
• Main Objective: support to leading-edge energy scientists (including social
scientists) and engineers in Wales
• Also delivery of WEFO Cross Cutting Themes

Our energy system is changing
The status quo is:
• safe
• stressed
• cheap
• ageing
And, the future could be:
• multi-vector
• whole system
• distributed
• flexible
• smart
But, change is upon us:
• climate change act
• society
• technology
• digital
Which
Direction?
Communities,
Data, People,
Society, Information
Policy
& Regulation
Electricity
or multi-
vector?
National /
Local?
Top Down or
Bottom Up?
©2016 Energy Systems Catapult. All rights
reserved.
©2016 Energy Systems Catapult. All right
Slide Source: Philip New, CEO, Energy Systems Catapult
©2016 Energy Systems Catapult. All rights reserved.

• Themes
• Activities can also be classified into
• FLEXIS overarching activities
• Transition to the Low Carbon Future
• Low Carbon Future (including Energy Systems & Carbon Management)
Integrated Energy
Networks
Integrated Energy
Storage and
Generation
Smart Living in
the Built
Environment
Fuels and Earth
Energy Systems
CROSS CUTTING THEMES
Equality and Diversity Sustainable Development Tackling Poverty
TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION

Flexis Workstream 17: Social Acceptability and
Responsible Innovation • Professor Nick Pidgeon
• Professor Karen Henwood
• Dr Christopher Groves
• Dr Fiona Shirani

Thank You