Papers by Steve Griffiths
Natural gas development across the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) — includin... more Natural gas development across the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) — including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain —has become a priority for achieving long-term energy security and for supporting economic diversification initiatives (Shabaneh et al. 2020).
Environmental Research Letters, 2021
Smart home technologies refer to devices that provide some degree of digitally connected, automat... more Smart home technologies refer to devices that provide some degree of digitally connected, automated, or enhanced services to household occupants. Smart homes have become prominent in recent technology and policy discussions about energy efficiency, climate change, and the sustainability of buildings. Nevertheless, do they truly promote sustainability goals? Based on an extensive original dataset involving expert interviews, supplemented with a review of the literature, this study elaborates on an array of social, technical, political, and environmental risks facing smart home innovation, with clear implications for research, policy, and technology development. Only with a more thoughtful and coordinated mix of policies in place will smart home adoption begin to fulfill some of the sustainability objectives their advocates continually promise.
Nature Sustainability, 2020
How does culture positively or negatively influence low-carbon energy transitions? How can insigh... more How does culture positively or negatively influence low-carbon energy transitions? How can insights gained about cultural influences guide local, national and global energy planners and policymakers as they navigate and try to stimulate transitions, particularly during a period of rapid technology change? This Review examines the influence of culture on a selection of low-carbon technologies, behavioral practices, and synergies with different dimensions of sustainability. Based on a typology of low-carbon technology and behavior, we explore the cultural dimensions of four specific case studies: eco-driving, ride-sharing, automated vehicles, and whole house retrofits. While the cases discussed are mainly oriented toward the low-carbon, environmental dimension of sustainability, they also demonstrate the relationship between culture and the equally important social and economic dimensions of sustainability. The Review concludes with policy and research recommendations for those seeking to analyze, understand, develop, demonstrate and deploy low-carbon innovations, practices, and technologies for sustainable energy transitions.
Energy Research & Social Science, 2020
http://sro.sussex.ac.uk Griffiths, Steven and Sovacool, Benjamin K (2019) Rethinking the future l... more http://sro.sussex.ac.uk Griffiths, Steven and Sovacool, Benjamin K (2019) Rethinking the future low-carbon city: carbon neutrality, green design, and sustainability tensions in the making of Masdar City. Energy Research & Social Science, 62. a101368.
Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2019
http://sro.sussex.ac.uk Sovacool, Benjamin K and Griffiths, Steve (2019) The cultural barriers to... more http://sro.sussex.ac.uk Sovacool, Benjamin K and Griffiths, Steve (2019) The cultural barriers to a low-carbon future: a review of six mobility and energy transitions across 28 countries. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews. a109569.
ACS nano, Jan 26, 2017
Cloud-seeding materials as a promising water-augmentation technology have drawn more attention re... more Cloud-seeding materials as a promising water-augmentation technology have drawn more attention recently. We designed and synthesized a type of core/shell NaCl/TiO (CSNT) particle with controlled particle size, which successfully adsorbed more water vapor (∼295 times at low relative humidity, 20% RH) than that of pure NaCl, deliquesced at a lower environmental RH of 62-66% than the hygroscopic point (h., 75% RH) of NaCl, and formed larger water droplets ∼6-10 times its original measured size area, whereas the pure NaCl still remained as a crystal at the same conditions. The enhanced performance was attributed to the synergistic effect of the hydrophilic TiO shell and hygroscopic NaCl core microstructure, which attracted a large amount of water vapor and turned it into a liquid faster. Moreover, the critical particle size of the CSNT particles (0.4-10 μm) as cloud-seeding materials was predicted via the classical Kelvin equation based on their surface hydrophilicity. Finally, the bene...
Energy Strategy Reviews, 2013
energy business, government and non-government organizations (NGOs) alike e to maintain focus in ... more energy business, government and non-government organizations (NGOs) alike e to maintain focus in their energy strategy research. It defines and describes the subject area covered by energy strategy as an emerging and holistic research discipline, for which Energy Strategy Reviews (ESR) provides the peer-reviewed publication platform. ESR provides authoritative content on strategic decision-making and vision-sharing related to society's energy needs including all aspects of energy strategy analysis, energy system modeling, feasible project options, scenarios, the decision-making process and stakeholder process modeling. The type of presentation can be an analysis, case study or report review. Energy Vision contributions are by invitation only, and written by a high profile leader from a prominent industrial organization, international agency, non-governmental organization, consultancy or research institution in energy. ESR frequently receives manuscripts that deal with detailed technical solutions, often for a subset of local energy systems. Such material is unsuitable for the scope and purpose of this journal (see aims & scope, and author guidelines at: http://http:/www.journals.elsevier.com/energy-strategy-reviews//). The ESR editorial board and guest editors for special issues have jointly prepared the points below. These are not intended as "golden rules", but as guidelines for establishing the contours of energy strategy research and its practical applications.
Energy Research & Social Science, 2020
The global Covid-19 pandemic has rapidly overwhelmed our societies, shocked the global economy an... more The global Covid-19 pandemic has rapidly overwhelmed our societies, shocked the global economy and overburdened struggling health care systems and other social institutions around the world. While such impacts of Covid-19 are becoming clearer, the implications of the disease for energy and climate policy are more prosaic. This Special Section seeks to offer more clarity on the emerging connections between Covid-19 and energy supply and demand, energy governance, future low-carbon transitions, social justice, and even the practice of research methodology. It features articles that ask, and answer: What are the known and anticipated impacts of Covid-19 on energy demand and climate change? How has the disease shaped institutional responses and varying energy policy frameworks, especially in Africa? How will the disease impact ongoing social practices, innovations and sustainability transitions, including not only renewable energy but also mobility? How might the disease, and social responses to it, exacerbate underlying patterns of energy poverty, energy vulnerability, and energy injustice? Lastly, what challenges and insights does the pandemic offer for the practice of research, and for future research methodology? We find that without careful guidance and consideration, the brave new age wrought by Covid-19 could very well collapse in on itself with bloated stimulus packages that counter sustainability goals, misaligned incentives that exacerbate climate change, the entrenchment of unsustainable practices, and acute and troubling consequences for vulnerable groups.
Energy Research & Social Science, 2022
The oil refining industry, which was established in the mid-19th century, has become a foundation... more The oil refining industry, which was established in the mid-19th century, has become a foundation of modern society. While the refining of crude oil to produce transportation fuels, petrochemical feedstocks and a variety of other products has brought manifold benefits, it has also led to the global proliferation of greenhouse gas emissions as well as local air pollution from the combustion of fossil fuels. The industry is therefore confronted with a growing need to decarbonize its operations, as well as to support decarbonization of the end use sectors that it directly enables. This paper provides a systematic and critical literature review to uncover the means by which the oil refining industry can decarbonize and evolve as part of an increasingly carbon constrained future. A sociotechnical perspective is used to understand the full range of industrial and economic activities where a decarbonized oil refining industry is expected to remain important and to provide the framework to assess key technical, economic, social and political factors that will likely impact the evolution of the oil refining industry. We highlight key opportunities for this industry to decarbonize while also exposing gaps in the existing literature concerning its decarbonization. The insights provided are expected to support policy makers, researchers and practitioners with the tools needed advance a low-carbon transition of the oil refining industry.
Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2022
Energy and Climate Change, 2021
Steve (2021) Culture, energy and climate sustainability, and smart home technologies: a mixed met... more Steve (2021) Culture, energy and climate sustainability, and smart home technologies: a mixed methods comparison of four countries. Energy and Climate Change, 2. a100035 1-19.
Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2021
Abstract Humanity has come to depend on synthetic, factory made gases that have extremely signifi... more Abstract Humanity has come to depend on synthetic, factory made gases that have extremely significant global warming potential. Fluorinated greenhouse gases, or F-gases, such as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), and nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) have been termed “super pollutants” and “super greenhouse gases” given their severe and powerful impact on the climate. They are the most potent greenhouse gases known to modern science, with global warming potentials far greater than carbon dioxide, some up to almost 24,000 times more so. Troublingly, they are also the fastest growing class of greenhouse gas emissions around the world, especially in developing countries. Research suggest that almost 40% of their emissions by 2050 will fall outside the scope of international agreements such as the Paris Accord, Montreal Protocol and Kigali Amendment. Without comprehensive and sustained interventions, uncontrolled growth in F-gas emissions could offset all of the gains made by the Clean Development Mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol, or the cornerstone of existing international climate governance, the Nationally Determined Contributions of the 2015 Paris Accord. This review asks: What options are available to mitigate the environmental impacts of F-gases and thus make their manufacturing or disposal far more sustainable? What technical solutions and innovations exist to make their industrial usage low to zero carbon? What benefits will accrue from F-gas mitigation, and what barriers will need addressed? It undertakes a comprehensive and critical review of more than 140,000 sources of evidence, and a short list of 855 studies on the topic. It utilizes a sociotechnical lens that examines the manufacturing and use of F-gases across multiple sectors (including refrigeration, electronics manufacturing, non-ferrous metals processing, and applications in consumer goods) and components of its lifecycle (including not only manufacturing, but also use, disposal and destruction). We find that there are several policies and regulations that can be employed to address this already serious and growing climate change challenge.
Energy Research & Social Science, 2021
Abstract Industrial decarbonization is a daunting challenge given the relative lack of low-carbon... more Abstract Industrial decarbonization is a daunting challenge given the relative lack of low-carbon options available for “hard to decarbonize” industries such as iron and steel, cement, and chemicals. Hydrogen, however, offers one potential solution to this dilemma given that is an abundant and energy dense fuel capable of not just meeting industrial energy requirements, but also providing long-duration energy storage. Despite the abundance and potential of hydrogen, isolating it and utilizing it for industrial decarbonization remains logistically challenging and is, in many cases, expensive. Industrial utilization of hydrogen is currently dominated by oil refining and chemical production with nearly all of the hydrogen used in these applications coming from fossil fuels. The generation of low-carbon or zero-carbon hydrogen for industrial applications requires new modes of hydrogen production that either intrinsically produce no carbon emissions or are combined with carbon capture technologies. This review takes a sociotechnical perspective to examine the full range of industries and industrial processes for which hydrogen can support decarbonization and the technical, economic, social and political factors that will impact hydrogen adoption.
Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2021
From farm to fork, food and beverage consumption can have significant negative impacts on energy ... more From farm to fork, food and beverage consumption can have significant negative impacts on energy consumption, water consumption, climate change, and other environmental subsystems. This paper presents a comprehensive, critical and systematic review of more than 350,000 sources of evidence, and a short list of 701 studies, on the topic of greenhouse gas emissions from the food and beverage industry. Utilizing a sociotechnical lens that examines food supply and agriculture, manufacturing, retail and distribution, and consumption and use, the review identifies the most carbon-intensive processes in the industry, as well as the corresponding energy and carbon "footprints". It discusses multiple current and emerging options and practices for decarbonization, including 78 potentially transformative technologies. It examines the benefits to sector decarbonization-including energy and carbon savings, cost savings, and other co-benefits related to sustainability or health-as well as barriers across financial and economic, institutional and managerial, and behavioral and consumer dimensions. It lastly discusses how financing, business models, and policy can be harnessed to help overcome these barriers, and identifies a set of research gaps.
The objective of this study is to investigate the different technology strategies for companies i... more The objective of this study is to investigate the different technology strategies for companies in the solar and wind industries given the dynamics of the renewable energy industry in general. We will investigate how these companies are creating value, capturing value, and delivering value. We looked at the internal and external factors that drove the competitiveness of the solar and wind companies. Literature review was conducted on the technology strategies as well as solar and wind renewable industries around the globe. Five case studies including solar and wind companies from around the world were carried out in order to understand their technologies strategies. Based on this, effective technology strategies to create, capture, and deliver value in the solar and wind renewable industries are identified.
Environmental Processes, 2014
Shale gas resources are proving to be globally abundant and the development of these resources ca... more Shale gas resources are proving to be globally abundant and the development of these resources can support the geologic storage of CO 2 (carbon dioxide) to mitigate the climate impacts of global carbon emissions from power and industrial sectors. This paper reviews global shale gas resources and considers both the opportunities and challenges for their development. It then provides a review of the literature on opportunities to store CO 2 in shale, thus possibly helping to mitigate the impact of CO 2 emissions from the power and industrial sectors. The studies reviewed indicate that the opportunity for geologic storage of CO 2 in shales is significant, but knowledge of the characteristics of the different types of shale gas found globally is required. The potential for CO 2 sorption as part of geologic storage in depleted shale gas reservoirs must be assessed with respect to the individual geology of each formation. Likewise, the introduction of CO 2 into shale for enhanced gas recovery (EGR) operations may significantly improve both reservoir performance and economics. Based on this review, we conclude that there is a very good opportunity globally regarding the future of geologic storage of CO 2 in depleted shale gas formations and as part of EGR operations.
Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2016
We conduct a comprehensive mapping and cost analysis of the renewable energy (RE) technology opti... more We conduct a comprehensive mapping and cost analysis of the renewable energy (RE) technology options available to the United Arab Emirate's (UAE) energy system. Based on projected demand and the true (unsubsidized) costs of fossil fuel supply, the substitution cost of each option and its respective potential is estimated. We demonstrate that a significant acceleration of the existing RE plans can be achieved with positive economic benefits for a number of optionsbefore accounting for health and environmental benefits, or new opportunities for hydrocarbon exportsand that the full portfolio can be completed at a cost that is less than 1 US Dollar (USD) per gigajoule (GJ) when accounting for the avoided subsidies by 2030. Growing opportunity cost of gas, falling solar prices and abundant solar resources are the biggest drivers behind these results. Cumulatively implementation of these options results in RE contributing to 10% of UAE's total final energy consumption in 2030. This achievement, seen in the context of the global effort to increase renewable energy penetration, is relatively limited, but the rates of increase in RE deployment are actually among the highest internationally given the low starting point and the unavailability of traditional RE sources (biomass and hydro) in the UAE. Moreover, they herald the implications of RE's rapid shift to cost-competitiveness in a country like the UAE.
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Papers by Steve Griffiths