The UK’s homes, transport, and industries waste roughly half the energy they consume—and the Energy Demand Research Centre (EDRC) plans to find out exactly where, why, and how to stop it. This matters because the UK faces three linked crises: climate change, energy security, and rising household bills. Reducing energy demand is not a side issue—research shows it could deliver half the emissions cuts needed by 2050 to reach Net Zero. Yet most current efforts focus on generating cleaner energy, not on using less of it in the first place. The EDRC fills that gap by studying which demand-reduction solutions actually work, where, and for whom. If the centre succeeds, it will produce actionable blueprints for policymakers, industry, and local authorities. These could reshape how homes are insulated, how transport networks are planned, and how factories manage heat and power. The goal is an energy system that is affordable, secure, and low-carbon—not by asking people to sacrifice comfort, but by redesigning the infrastructure that quietly runs everyday life.
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The UK is facing an energy crisis on three fronts: climate change, energy security, and affordability. This challenge requires a fundamental change in our society, to enable a deep energy demand reduction and wide use of low-carbon technologies, supported by policy, businesses and the public alike. Energy demand reduction is in fact fundamental so that we can improve energy security, reduce household energy bills and address climate change. Research has shown that reducing energy use could help meet half of the required emissions reductions we need by 2050 to become a Net Zero society. While this poses a challenge, it also provides an opportunity for the UK to become a global leader in energy demand reduction, and associated research. The Energy Demand Research Centre (EDRC) develops the next phase of energy demand research in the UK, building on previous research and working closely with academic and non-academic partners. Our work will inform and inspire energy demand reductions that support an affordable, comfortable and secure Net Zero society. Our research programme cuts across different sciences (e.g. engineering and social) and sectors (e.g. buildings, transport and industry). We study which energy demand solutions can be delivered in a flexible and equitable manner and at which locations, taking into consideration issues such as local housing stock and transport links, skills base and governance models. We aim to deliver impactful research on energy demand that produces actionable solutions for industry, policy makers, practitioners and charities.
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