FPRN bulletin – 12th April 2024


12 April 2024

The FPRN email bulletin is a semi-regular email highlighting a handpicked selection of recently published research and other knowledge outputs in the area of fuel/energy poverty from around the world. The aim is to share this emerging knowledge more widely and to help generate discussion across the network.

If you have any issues accessing the below articles, or you have articles, research or other information we could share, please contact newsletter@fuelpovertyresearch.net

Survey of research community
FPRN (2024)
 Report  Open Access 

The UK Government’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) is undertaking a review of the Fuel Poverty Strategy for England. To support the review, the FPRN Committee conducted a short survey of the FPRN network to share evidence, research, or information that they felt the UK Government should consider.

Left Out in the Cold: The Hidden Impact of Cold Homes
Angela Donkin; Michael Marmot (2024)
 Report  Open Access 

This report updates the health, wellbeing and environmental impacts of living in a cold home.  The report finds that the cost of retrofitting 9.6 million households, while expensive, would be outweighed by savings from improved productivity and reduced National Health Service care, and carbon costs. 

Annual fuel poverty statistics report: 2024
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (2024)
 Report  Open Access 

The fuel poverty statistics report for 2024 includes the latest statistics on the number of households living in fuel poverty in England, analysis of the composition of the fuel poor group in 2022 and 2023, and projections of the number of households in fuel poverty in 2023 and 2024.

The future of the Energy Company Obligation
E3G (2024)
 Report  Open Access 

The briefing sets out the terms of a review of the obligation and discusses the ECOs role, scheme design and supporting policy.

A new deal for locally led home upgrades
E3G (2024)
 Report  Open Access 

This briefing sets out how locally led approaches to home upgrades should develop, in order to contribute to a well-functioning ecosystem of retrofit schemes. After years of cuts to local authorities’ core services, and amid ongoing financial and supply chain challenges, a holistic approach is needed to level up access and end the postcode lottery.

Home safe. Giving consumers confidence to install low carbon technologies
Citizens Advice (2023)
 Report  Open Access 

Trust in net zero technologies is at risk due to rogue traders and poor installations. To ensure net zero goals and consumer confidence, the government must enhance protections and crack down on unethical practices.

Innovating beyond retail: reaching Net Zero consumer energy
Energy Systems Catapult (2024)
 Report  Open Access 

This report identifies six challenges that must be addressed for an enhanced energy retail ecosystem: Incentives are misaligned, market entry barriers are high, the system remains dumb, unfair outcomes could derail Net Zero, consumers don’t have access to the right information, and slow policy and regulatory change limits innovation. A number of recommendations for immediate action, as well as key opportunities for further research to inform future decision-making are presented.

This email newsletter is produced by the Fuel Poverty Research Network. For more news and events visit our website.