Our Research
Our Themes
Research in WEBS will align across four not mutually exclusive themes, that will draw on all Business School academic disciplines in a broad sense to investigate business, economic and societal aspects of Energy within a) the geographic locality of the participating Schools, b) across the localities of the participating Schools and c) globally.
The aim of these themes is to provide a focus for and a vehicle to enhance high quality academic publications whilst also producing high quality impactful scholarly output.
Research within the themes will beyond the purely academic interest also seek not only to inform but also influence business practices, decision making within NGO’s, government practices and policy as well as cross country and international cooperation within the Energy sector.
Whilst focusing on business outcomes, research may also look at the effect of such outcomes on the wider community and society.
Energy, Society and Security
This theme looks at socio economic issues -of energy transmission and usage on society- both in terms of its locality of production (where WEBS schools will have a particular role to play) as well as globally. Analysis will encompass both local behaviour and governmental responses to societal energy related issues such as income distributional concerns e.g. fuel poverty. It also deals with the related supply side security concerns of the nation state and the geopolitical aspects of energy usage and production.
Energy and Environment
The theme investigates the societal effect energy production and consumption has on its surrounding. This could be connected to the impact production has on the local environment (e.g. the effect acid rain from coal burning plants has on the surrounding vegetation)- but also how consumption (E.g. diesel driven cars) has on its immediate surrounds. Furthermore, it looks at the effect of different types of energy production has on the wider national and global environment.
Energy Markets
This theme looks at the design and functioning of energy markets by considering both the supply and demand side. On the supply side, it encompasses all the traditional energy markets, such as coal, oil, petroleum and nuclear, but also how these are affected by the emergence of new forms of energy generation and production. On the demand side, it includes the role of consumer behaviour in shaping energy consumption.
Energy Transition
This theme is concerned with at the development, production, generation and storage of new types of energy. It investigates both the types of generation of energy and the technological aspects of energy usage. It looks at business solutions within energy transition in the face of rapid technological advances and how such solutions interact with society, governmental decision making and international agreements.
