Research
Economics and Policy Analysis
Smart technology will not succeed unless it is accompanied by smart policy. This means policies that drive the achievement of objectives in ways that support economic development, minimise the burden of compliance, are fair, and support and sustain innovation. Our Economics and Policy analysis group contribute greatly to this while supporting research that focuses on understanding many of the policy issues that arise.
The main research areas include:
- Why markets fail to deliver energy, climate change and environmental objectives
- What mix of policies can be mobilised to correct for this market failure, including markets such as the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme
- How human behaviour and quality of life are shaped, and how they can be oriented in manners that are fair and institutionally effective, and supportive of socially desired environmental and related objectives
- How ‘green tech’ and related innovation and enterprise can be stimulated and sustained
- How the benefits and costs of technologies emerging from other ESI themes can be assessed
Atlantic Energy Efficiency
The project will analyse EU and US energy technology road maps, the potential for synergies and opportunities for mutual learning and harmonisation with a focus on policy, performance, and energy R&D and associated policies aimed at enhanced energy efficiency. It will identify joint EU-US approaches to supporting emerging economies' own efforts to embrace energy efficient and low carbon technologies.The aim of the project is to help policy makers in EU, US and emerging economies better understand how to maximise the impact - in terms of energy efficiency, the development of economic activity, climate change impacts etc – of support for energy technologies and related R&D. To support ongoing dialogue and interaction between academics, business and policy leaders to generate mutual respect and understanding about their view and analyses as to how improved energy efficiency and associated technologies can be mobilised.
The project is funded by the European Union and Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland.
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