Directory of Energy Poverty Researchers

I have extensive experience (30 years) in providing expert advice on issues of energy poverty and justice, energy efficiency, and transitions to low-carbon futures across UK, Europe and the Global South, as part of more than 60 projects funded by international organizations, national governments, charitable bodies and the private sector. I have specialist expertise in energy inequality measurement and identification, socio-demographics, as well as energy policy development and evaluation. This has been presented in over 150 peer-reviewed scientific publications and seven books on the subject.

My research uses in-depth interviews to understand people’s experiences of deep fuel and transport poverty in the UK with focus on people living in cities, spanning the South and North of the UK. I also work on issues of low carbon energy transition and access in South Africa. I focus on how energy use affects wellbeing in multiple connected ways, including abilities to access/use digital services and transport as well as heat/cooling and light.

I have experience in low carbon transitions and retrofit from a local government perspective, based on my work in academic research (university), policy development (think tank), practitioner (in local government and social housing), and cross-sectoral collaborations in all three fields.

I have worked at National Energy Action (NEA) for four years, focussing on shaping the energy market so that it works well for fuel poor and vulnerable households, as well as campaigning for a fair and affordable transition to net zero.

I am a social scientist with a specific interest in how people are affected by fuel poverty and transport poverty. My research has focused on the lived experiences of people, particularly how being in fuel poverty and/or transport poverty affects people's every day life. I have also researched community action on fuel poverty, spatial aspects and the impact of different policies.

I research inclusion and inequalities in transport and mobility, investigating factors affecting people's ability to make the journeys they need. I focus on availability and affordability of transport services, and conditions required for safe cycling and walking and fairness in transitions to low carbon mobility.

My research uses spatial approaches to understand the geography of different types of inequality - in particular energy poverty.

I conduct research on soclal justice considerations in the low carbon transition. In particular, I have explored householder experiences of energy efficient retrofit, researched intersections with health and wellbeing, and conducted fieldwork on the application of social prescribing approaches to fuel poverty. I am chair of the Fuel Poverty Research Network.

My current research focuses on power and inequality. I aim to uncover the institutional and structural arrangements that render some people vulnerable to energy poverty, such as the design of energy/housing markets and the stigmatisation of marginalised groups in society.

I am an expert in the relationship between climate policy, fuel poverty, and policy. I strongly believe that we can address climate change goals (e.g. net zero) in a fair and just way that lifts the most vulnerable out of fuel poverty.