In this section
ICEPT staff and PhD students publish widely in a range of academic journals, policy reports and technical papers.
@article{Staffell:2026:2753-3751/aeb02c,
author = {Staffell, I and Lowes, R and Mehlig, D and Rosenow, J},
doi = {2753-3751/aeb02c},
journal = {Environmental Research: Energy},
pages = {048002--048002},
title = {Comment on ‘Reappraisal of paths to decarbonising British electricity generation in 2030’},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/2753-3751/aeb02c},
volume = {3},
year = {2026}
}
TY - JOUR
AB - <jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>Electrifying transport and heat are central to climate change mitigation, as electricity is unequivocally lower carbon than burning fuels in cars, boilers and furnaces. In a recent paper, Dunstan and Drew argue that expanding electrification before complete power-sector decarbonisation yields no proven emissions savings, because the additional load from electric vehicles (EVs) and heat pumps (HPs) will be provided entirely by gas-fired power stations. We show that these claims rest upon simplifying assumptions about carbon accounting and power system operation, and mis-specified efficiencies for gas power plants, vehicles, boilers and HPs. When using empirically-grounded efficiency data, we show that even if HPs and EVs were powered solely by gas-fired power stations, they would use half as much fossil fuel as modern gas boilers or combustion-engine vehicles. We then explain how the British power system uses a mix of sources, so additional demand from electrification is met by energy storage, interconnection and demand-side response, alongside flexible power stations. Even without being ‘completely decarbonised’, the short-run marginal carbon intensity of British electricity is half that of unabated natural gas, and the mean carbon intensity is two-thirds lower. Our findings and the wider literature demonstrate that electrification benefits scale with electricity’s carbon intensity and contradict Dunstan and Drew’s zero-savings headline. Clarifying these basics is important for policy and public trust, because today’s purchases of long-lived vehicles and heating systems can lock in fossil-fuel dependency and continued carbon emissions for decades.</jats:p>
AU - Staffell,I
AU - Lowes,R
AU - Mehlig,D
AU - Rosenow,J
DO - 2753-3751/aeb02c
EP - 048002
PY - 2026///
SP - 048002
TI - Comment on ‘Reappraisal of paths to decarbonising British electricity generation in 2030’
T2 - Environmental Research: Energy
UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/2753-3751/aeb02c
UR - https://doi.org/10.1088/2753-3751/aeb02c
VL - 3
ER -