The Sustainable Technologies is made up of 13 projects and 2 fellowships:

1. Accounting for the outcomes of windfarm planning applications
The UK has some of the world’s best wind power resources, but we tap only a tiny fraction of their potential.

Read more>>

2. The development and diffusion of fuel cell technology as a disruptive innovation
Many sustainability objectives are so challenging that radical technological breakthroughs will be needed to achieve them.

Read more>>

3. Technological transformations in food consumption and production systems
Food is central to our lives, so it is no surprise that producing and consuming food can have wide ranging impacts on the environment.

Read more>>

4. Supporting and harnessing diversity? Experiments in appropriate technology
New technologies that are more sustainable often emerge in niches at the margins of mainstream technological systems.

Read more>>

5. Sustainable domestic technologies: changing practice, technology and convention
New technologies open up new possibilities for consumption, often with negative environmental consequences.

Read more>>

return to top

6. Policy drivers and barriers for sustainable innovation
New technologies hold out the prospect of providing solutions to some of the most serious environmental problems that society faces.

Read more>>

7. Trade-offs in decision-making for sustainable technologies
How do people decide whether to adopted sustainable technologies, for instance, what are the trade-offs involved in purchasing light bulbs?

Read more>>

8. Delivering sustainable technologies: Improving uptake through partnership?
Sustainable waste management is one of the biggest environmental challenges facing the UK. A shift from landfill towards waste minimisation, re-use, recycling and composting is required.

Read more>>

9. Integrating micro-generation into energy networks and buildings
Will the government's targets for increasing the amount of electricity from renewable energy and combline heat and power be met through 'micro-generation'?

Read more>>

10. Nanotechnology, risk and sustainability: moving public engagement upstream
Nanotechnology promises to be one of the defining innovations of the 21st century, but fears have been expressed about potential hazards. Can public debate be moved closer to the heart of R&D processes?

Read more>>

return to top

11. Community Energy Initiatives: Embedding sustainable technology at a local level
There is an increased interest for community-based renewable energy projects from the public, private and voluntary sectors alike. Through co-operative partnerships new technologies will be more readily accepted.

Read more>>

12. Building renewable energy innovation systems
Wind and marine power have great potential in Scotland, but the industrial base that could take advantage of these energy resources is declining. A 'systems-innovation' approach is being used to investigate.

Read more>>

13. Sustainable technology transition through innovation network reconfiguration
Whatever happened to the 'paperless office'? Can electronic paper/e-books, nano-ink or genetic modification of trees make the printed paper industry more sustainable?

Read more>>

1. Towards a social psychology of sustainable consumption
Consumer behaviour is key to the impact that society is having on the environment.

Read more>>

2. Towards a new theory of economic regulation to include environmental concerns
Radical change in the electricity system is needed to reduce carbon emissions by 60% but the current style of regulation does not place emphasis on innovation and environmental goals.

Read more>>

return to top

Programme Reports >>>