Engineering

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Prof Peter Connor

Associate Professor in Sustainable Energy Policy

 P.M.Connor@exeter.ac.uk

 01326 371870

Overview

Prof. Peter Connor is an Associate Professor of Sustainable Energy Policy in the Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy (FESE) at the University of Exeter. He joined the university in 2005 as a Lecturer in Renewable Energy Policy. Peter researches and teaches in national and local policy for the effective promotion of renewable energy technologies and their integration into increasingly smarter energy systems. He has a particular interest in the design and implementation of policy and regulation relating to electricity and heat within the UK and amongst EU Member States.

Membership of professional bodies

Member of British Institute of Energy Economics

Member of Council, British Institute of Energy Economics, 2009-2018

Member of the International Association of Energy Economics

Links with other Universities

Peter's current research involves work with various UK and European institutions. University partners include the Technical University of Delft, ETH Zurich, University of East Anglia, Cardiff University and Plymouth University.

Nationality

British

Administrative responsibilities

Library Liaison Officer, Renewable Energy

Qualifications

PhD, Open University (2002)

MSc Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, Coventry University (1997)

BSc Chemistry, University of Warwick (1992)

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Publications

Copyright Notice: Any articles made available for download are for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the author and the copyright holder.

| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2000 |

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

  • Hardwick JP, Zheng S, Smith H, Fitch-Roy O, Williams J, Connor P, Sundaram S, Iglesias G. (2018) ICE report T1.4 - A Community Specific Assessment of Local Energy, INTERREG, University of Exeter.
  • Matthew GS, Fitch-Roy OWF, Connor PM, Woodman B, Thies P, Hussain E, Mahmood H, Abusara M, Yan X, Hardwick J. (2018) ICE report T2.1.2 - ICE general methodology, INTERREG, University of Exeter, 52 pages.
  • Matthew GJ, Fitch-Roy O, Connor P, Woodman B. (2018) ICE Report T2.1.1 - Smart peripheral territories transitions: Literature review and current status, EU INTERREG, University of Exeter, 36 pages.
  • Matthew GJ, Fitch-Roy O, Connor P, Woodman B. (2018) ICE Report T2.1.1 - Smart peripheral territories transitions: Literature review and current status.
  • Bray R, Woodman B, Connor P. (2018) Policy and regulatory barriers to local energy markets in Great Britain.
  • Connor PM, Axon CJ, Xenias D, Balta-Ozkan N. (2018) Sources of risk and uncertainty in UK smart grid deployment: An expert stakeholder analysis, Energy, volume 161, pages 1-9, DOI:10.1016/j.energy.2018.07.115. [PDF]
  • Hardwick J, Smith H, Fitch-Roy O, Connor PM, Sundaram S. (2018) ICE report T1.1.1: An overview of renewable energy supply potential, INTERREG, University of Exeter.
  • Faerber LA, Balta-Ozkan N, Connor PM. (2018) Innovative network pricing to support the transition to a smart grid in a low-carbon economy, Energy Policy, volume 116, pages 210-219, DOI:10.1016/j.enpol.2018.02.010.
  • Fitch-Roy O, Connor PM. (2018) An overview of renewable energy policy and regulatory considerations in Ouessant and the UEA campus, INTERREG, University of Exeter.

2017

  • Connor PM, Smith H. (2017) Geography of marine renewable energy technologies, Handbook on the Geographies of Energy, Elgar, 177-192.
  • Davies LL, Crossley P, Connor PM, Park S, Shaw-Hughes S. (2017) Climate Regulation of the Electricity Industry: A Comparative View from Australia, Great Britain, South Korea, and the United States, South Carolina Journal of International Law and Business, volume 13, pages 109-193.

2015

2014

  • Connor PM, Baker P, Xenias D, Balta-Ozkan N, Axon C. (2014) Policy and Regulation for Smart Grids in the United Kingdom, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, volume 40, pages 269-286, DOI:10.1016/j.rser.2014.07.065.
  • Xenias D, Axon C, Balta-Ozkan N, Cipcigan LM, Connor PM, Davidson R, Spence A, Taylor G, Whitmarsh L. (2014) Scenarios for the development of smart grids in the UK : literature review, UK Energy Research Centre.
  • Balta-Ozkan N, Watson T, Connor PM, Axon C. (2014) UK’s transition to a smarter energy system: Contextualising spatial differences and their implications, AAG Conference, Florida, 8th - 12th Apr 2014.
  • Balta-Ozkan N, Watson T, Connor PM, Axon C, Whitmarsh L, Davidson R, Spence A, Baker P, Xenias D, Cipcigan LM. (2014) Scenarios for the Development of Smart Grids in the UK: synthesis report, UK Energy Research Centre.

2013

  • Vantoch-Wood A, Connor PM, Kablan Y. (2013) Comparative Report from the Respondents of Two Regional Studies - Merific. [PDF]
  • Vantoch-Wood A, Connor PM, Kablan Y. (2013) Application of Policy Instruments for Regional Support of Marine Renewable Energy, European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference (EWTEC) 2013, Aalborg, Denmark, 2nd - 5th Sep 2013.
  • Vantoch-Wood A, Connor PM, Kablan Y. (2013) Combined Policy Application Report - Merific, University of Exeter.
  • Vantoch-Wood A, Connor PM. (2013) Using network analysis to understand public policy for wave energy, Energy Policy, volume 62, pages 676-685.
  • Connor P. (2013) Policies to support the growth of renewable energy sources of heat, Energy Policy, volume 59, pages 1-2, DOI:10.1016/j.enpol.2013.05.061.
  • Connor P, Bürger V, Beurskens L, Ericsson K, Egger C. (2013) Devising renewable heat policy: Overview of support options, Energy Policy, volume 59, pages 3-16, DOI:10.1016/j.enpol.2012.09.052.
  • Vantoch-Wood A, Connor PM. (2013) Using network analysis to understand public policy for wave energy, Energy Policy, DOI:10.1016/j.enpol.2013.07.066.

2012

  • Bailey I, De Groot J, Whitehead I, Vantoch-Wood A, Connor PM. (2012) Comparison of National Policy Frameworks for Marine Renewable Energy within the United Kingdom and France.
  • Vantoch-Wood A, De Groot J, Connor PM, Bailey I, Whitehead I. (2012) National Policy Framework for Marine Renewable Energy within the United Kingdom.
  • Connor P, Bürger V, Beurskens L, Ericsson K, Egger C. (2012) Devising renewable heat policy: Overview of support options, Energy Policy, DOI:10.1016/j.enpol.2012.09.052.

2011

  • Kranzl L, Müller A, Hummel M, Bürger V, Beurskens L, Connor PM, Giakoumi A, Minas I, Ericsson K, Steinbach J. (2011) The Role and Impact of Biomass Heating Support Policies, 19th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, Berlin, Germany, 6th - 9th Jun 2011, DOI:10.5071/19thEUBCE2011-OD9.2.
  • Richardson T, Xie L, Connor PM. (2011) Assessment of the effectiveness and economic efficiency of selected support options for the United Kingdom. [PDF]
  • Connor PM, Buerger V, Beurskens L, Kroon P. (2011) Policy Recommendations for Renewable Heating and Cooling in the United Kingdom. [PDF]
  • Buerger V, Kranzl L, Connor PM, Ericsson K, Beurskens L, Steinbach J, Ragwitz M. (2011) Policy Development for improving RES-H/C Penetration in European Member States (RES-H Policy). [PDF]
  • Connor PM. (2011) IPCC Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. [PDF]

2010

  • Connor PM. (2010) Wave Energy Projects Should Consider the Views of the Surfing Community, Wave and Tidal Power, Greenhaven Press, 65-75.
  • Kranzl L, Muller A, Connor PM. (2010) Modelling the impact for solar thermal support policies, Eurosun 2010, Graz, Austria, 28th Sep - 1st Oct 2010.
  • Xie L, Connor P. (2010) Target setting for RES-H/C in UK. [PDF]
  • Xie L, Connor P. (2010) Description of selected RES-H/C support instrument options including their qualitative assessment for the United Kingdom. [PDF]
  • Bergman N, Connor P, Markusson N, Middlemiss L, Ricci M. (2010) Bottom-up Social Innovation for Addressing Climate Change, Energy transitions in an interdependent world: what and where are the future social science research agendas?, Brighton, Uk, 25th - 26th Feb 2010.

2009

  • Connor PM, Xie L. (2009) Current State of Heating and Cooling Markets in United Kingdom.
  • Connor PM, Bürger V, Beurskens L, Ericsson K, Egger C. (2009) Overview of RES-H/C Support Options, 67 pages.

2008

  • Connor PM. (2008) UK Renewable Heat Policy: Lessons from Renewable Electricity Policy, British Institute of Energy Economics, St John's College, Oxford, 24th - 25th Sep 2008.

2007

  • Connor PM. (2007) Wave Energy - Going Down the Tube?, European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference, Porto, Portugal, 11th - 13th Sep 2007.

2006

  • Mitchell C, Bauknecht D, Connor PM. (2006) Effectiveness through risk reduction: a comparison of the renewable obligation in England and Wales and the feed-in system in Germany, Energy Policy, volume 34, no. 3, pages 297-305.

2005

  • Connor PM. (2005) The UK Renewables Obligation, Switching to Renewable Energy - A Framework for the 21st Century, Earthscan, 159-186.

2004

  • Mitchell C, Connor PM. (2004) Renewable Energy Policy in the UK 1990-2003, Energy Policy, volume 32, no. 17, pages 1935-1947, DOI:10.1016/j.enpol.2004.03.016.
  • Connor PM. (2004) Renewable Electricity in the United Kingdom: Developing Policy in an Evolving Electricity Market, Renewable Electricity Policies in Europe: Tradable Green Certificates in Competitive Markets, Presses Universitaires de Louvain, 243-300.
  • Connor PM, Mitchell C. (2004) A Regulatory Roadmap for the UK: Road Map for Transition of the Regulatory Framework of the UK Electricity Supply System, 40 pages.
  • Connor PM, Mitchell C. (2004) Identification of Barriers to Convergence of Support for Renewable Energy within the European Union, 46 pages.

2003

  • Connor PM. (2003) UK Renewable Energy Policy: A Review, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, volume 7, no. 1, pages 65-82.
  • Connor PM. (2003) National Innovation, Industrial Policy and Renewable Energy Technology, 'Government Intervention in Energy Markets', British Institute of Energy Economics, St John's College, Oxford, 25th - 26th Sep 2003.

2002

  • Connor PM. (2002) Strategic Development of Renewable Energy Technology in Europe.
  • Connor PM, Mitchell C. (2002) A Review of Four European Regulatory Systems and their Impact on the Deployment of Distributed Generation.

2000

  • Connor PM. (2000) The Move to Maturity in the Wind Turbine Manufacturing Industry - Is it happening and, if so, what are its implications?, World Renewable Energy Congress, Brighton, England, 1st - 7th Jul 2000.

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Further information

Research Interests

Prof. Peter Connor researches and teaches in the area of national renewable energy policy and regulation. He has a particular interest in the design and implementation of policy and regulation as it impacts on renewable energy sources of electricity and heat within the UK and at the level of EU Member States. He is also interested in policy and regulation as it applies to the technologies and behaviours relating to enabling measures for renewable energy such as those concerned with smarter delivery of energy.  Peter is overall project lead on the current SHIFFT (Sustainable Heating: Implementation of Fossil-Free Technology) project, a €5.7M research project supported by INTERREG 2 Seas. The project aims to support cities in four countries in developing strategies to decarbonise their heat as well as to help communities develop practical heat solutions.

Peter is the University of Exeter’s Principal investigator on the ICE project (Intelligent Community Energy). Merific is a €4.8M project funded through the INTERREG IVa programme with partners in Cornwall and Brittany. It is a multidisciplinary project with input from a diverse group of Exeter academics. Peter leads on policy and regulatory issues relating to renewable energy, on developing a general methodology and on seeking stakeholder input into the project. The project also contains core research strands which move forward the work of PRIMaRE and further advance CSM’s work in overcoming the technical challenges for marine renewable, with a particular focus on moorings and resource assessment. The project will also work to develop a structural simulation of the marine sector to maximise the learning benefits from the project (Childe) and adds further depth to the work carried out in Exeter’s Biosciences department, in considering the environmental impacts of marine renewable energy.

Peter is also working on the initial stages of a UKRI GCRF project "Energy Democracy and the Politics of Energy Transition in African countries". This is a new project supported by the UKRI GCRF funding stream ‘Beyond Technology’ and will consider the many elements impacting democratisation and inclusivity around energy choices in communities. Its research focus will be in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Nigeria. The primary research  work will be to consider how the strategic political understanding of many of those countries dominated by grid extension to enable energy access can be changed to incorporate the substantial decentralized, off-grid provision that will be necessary to achieve both effective outreach and low carbon transition.

Peter is also invovled in the H2020 Melody project to investigate the potential for the production of Redox Flow batteries using widely available resources in place of the rare earth metals currently used in many of the market leading battery technologies

Students

Peter also supports a number of PhD students carrying out research in diverse areas of renewable energy policy and regulation. Current student projects include:

  • Development of a spatially and temporally explicit Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) model for bioenergy in the UK
  • The role of local energy actors in the spatial diffusion of solar photovoltaics, and their contribution to overcoming the energy trilemma of energy security, energy affordability (and equity) and environmental sustainability.

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