School of Social and Political Science

Background

I am an interdisciplinary energy researcher with a background in social and political science, and economics. I currently work as a Research Fellow on the INTEGRATE project - assessing policy, market and regulatory design for seasonal thermal energy storage systems - and the UKERC project Going Dutch? - assessing current governance approaches to heat decarbonisation in the Netherlands, the UK and Scotland. From 2017-2020, I was Research Fellow on the 'Energy Policy Effectiveness' project at the University of Edinburgh and the ClimateXChange research agency, carrying out systematic evidence reviews on questions relevant to Scottish energy policy.

Undergraduate Teaching

I have carried out guest lectures and seminars on the Energy Policy and Sustainbility course, which is run by Dr Mark Winskel and Dr Kirsten Jenkins

Postgraduate Teaching

I guest lectire on the Energy Policy and Politics course, which is run by Dr Ronan Bolton and Dr Mark Winskel.

Publications

Peer-reviewed publications

Kerr, N. Winskel, M. (2022) Have we been here before? Reviewing evidence of energy technology phase-out to inform home heating transitions. Energy Research and Social Science, 89

Kerr, N. (2021) Why rationale matters in energy and climate policy. In Webb J, Wade F, Tingey M, editors, Research Handbook on Energy and Society. Edward Elgar. 2021. p. 112-125. (Elgar Handbooks in Energy, the Environment and Climate Change).

Kerr, N. and Winskel, M. (2020) Household investment in home energy retrofit: A review of the evidence on effective public policy design for privately owned homes. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 123

Kerr, N; Gillard, R; Middlemiss, L. (2019) Politics, problematisation, and policy: A comparative analysis of energy poverty in England, Ireland and France. Energy and Buildings, 194, 191-200.

Kerr, N; Gouldson, A; Barrett, J. (2018) Holistic narratives of the renovation experience: Using Q-methodology to improve understanding of domestic energy retrofits in the United Kingdom. Energy Research and Social Science, 42, 90-99

Kerr, N. Gouldson, A. Barrett, J. (2017) ‘The rationale for energy efficiency policy: Assessing the recognition of the multiple benefits of energy efficiency retrofit policy’. Energy Policy, 106, 212-221

Gouldson, A; Kerr, N; Millward-Hopkins, J; Freeman, M; Topi, C; Sullivan, R. (2015) Innovative Financing Models for Low Carbon Transitions: Exploring the case for revolving funds for domestic energy efficiency programmes. Energy Policy, 86, pp. 739-748

Webber, P; Gouldson, A; Kerr, N. (2015) The impacts of household retrofit and domestic energy efficiency schemes: A large scale ex-post evaluation. Energy Policy, 84, pp. 35-43

Gouldson A; Colenbrander S; Sudmant A; McAnulla F; Kerr N; Sakai P; Hall S; Papargyropoulou E; Kuylenstierna J.2015. Exploring the economic case for climate action in cities. Global Environmental Change, 35, 93-105

Gouldson, A., Kerr, N., Topi, C., Dawkins, E., Kuylenstierna, J., Sullivan, R. and Webber, P. (2014) 'The Economics and Financing of Low Carbon Cities' in Dixon, T. and Eames, M. (eds). Urban Retrofitting for Sustainability: Mapping the Transition for 2050, Routledge

Gouldson, A., Kerr, N., Topi, C. Dawkins, E., Kuylenstierna, J., and Pearce, R. (2012) 'The Economics of Low Carbon Cities: Approaches to a City Scale Mini-Stern Review' in Simpson, R. and Zimmerman, M. (eds) The Economy of Green Cities: A World Compendium on the Green Urban Economy, Springer.

Reports

Kerr, N and Tingey, M. (2022). Heat networks delivery plan - draft: consultation analysis for the Scottish Government.

Parker, K; Winskel, M; Kerr, N. (2021) Industrial Strategy in Scotland: A review of cluster-based initiatives. ClimateXChange

Kerr, N; Winskel, M. (2021) Energy technology phase-out: Using international analogues to inform ‘net zero’ heat decarbonisation policy. ClimateXChange

Kerr, N; Mejia Montero, Adolfo; Grant, R. (2021) Policy briefing: Sunamp heat batteries and fuel poverty economics.

Kerr, N; Mejia Montero, Adolfo; Grant, R. (2021) Sunamp heat batteries and fuel poverty economics

Kerr, N; Winskel, M. (2021) A review of heat decarbonisation policies in Europe. ClimateXChange

Kerr, N; Winskel, M. (2018) Private rental sector and home energy retrofit investment – scoping report. ClimateXChange

Kerr, N; Winskel, M. (2018) Private household investment in home energy retrofit: reviewing the evidence and designing effective public policy. ClimateXChange

Millward-Hopkins JT, Gouldson A, Kerr N. (2016) The Co-Evolution of Financial Instruments and Institutions and Low Carbon Transitions.

Gouldson, A; Colenbrander, S; McAnulla, F; Sudmant, A; Kerr, N; Sakai, P; Hall, S; Papargyropoulou, E; Kuylenstierna, J. (2015) The Economic Case for Low Carbon Cities: New Climate Economy contributing paper

Andy Gouldson, Niall Kerr, Faye McAnulla, Stephen Hall, Sarah Colenbrander and Andrew Sudmant. 2014. The Economics of Low Carbon Cities Kolkata, India. Climate Smart Cities.

Gouldson, A., Kerr, N., Topi, C. Dawkins, E., Kuylenstierna, J. and Pearce, R (2013) 'The Economics of Low Carbon Cities for Birmingham and the Wider Urban Area, published by the Centre for Low Carbon Futures.

Gouldson, A., Kerr, N., Topi, C., Dawkins, E., Kuylenstierna, J. and Pearce, R. (2012) 'The Economics of Low Carbon Cities: A Mini-Stern Review for the Leeds City Region', published by the Centre for Low Carbon Futures.

Gouldson, A., Harwatt, H., Kerr, N. and Ellis, L. (2011) Towards a Low Carbon economy? Pathways Towards Low Carbon Business. Policy Brief prepared for the UK Dept.s of Energy and Climate Change, Business, Innovation and Skills, and Environment Food and Rural Affairs, published by the Centre for Low Carbon Futures.