Dr Sam Williamson
Senior Lecturer
University of Bristol
Email: sam.williamson@bristol.ac.uk
What does sustainable energy mean for you?
Sustainability has relationships with environmental protection, economic longevity, social acceptance and policy support. A definition I like to use suggests that for a system to be sustainable nothing can cross its system boundary. Therefore, in the context of energy, the system does not require any energy to be imported into it. This system could be a small community in the middle of the Amazonian rainforest, a city in the UK, a whole country or even continent – the critical element is that no energy is brought into the system. You can also extend this concept to think about the other components that are required for energy systems – for example equipment, knowledge, finance. Can an energy system be made that is completely independent? And how do you ensure it is appropriate for the situation?
My research investigates these ideas for sustainable energy access through the concepts of renewable energy microgrids and whole energy systems analysis, with the aims of supporting international climate targets and working towards achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. My research targets empowering and enabling communities large and small to be able to support themselves using tools, techniques and services locally available, especially in the international development context.
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