New research centre will help to accelerate net-zero transition

Octopus Energy has launched a new Centre for Net Zero (OCNZ) in a bid to accelerate the uptake of clean technologies and green energy. 

The London-based research centre will combine energy tech data, economic analysis and behavioural insights in order to boost knowledge transfer between countries and industry leaders.

The research centre will bring together a team of experts from data science, econometrics, behavioural science and climate policy to find answers to the most pressing issues in energy. Its initial research will focus on two of the UK’s most carbon-heavy sectors, residential heating and transport, which together accounted for 53% of overall carbon emissions in 2019.

The OCNZ will be independent of Octopus Energy and will have full autonomy over its work.

Energy Minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan said: ‘The UK is leading the world in the green industrial revolution,
from being the first major economy to commit to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 to set ambitious targets in the Prime Minister’s Ten-Point-Plan and our Energy White Paper.

‘As we build back greener, private sector and business investment is going to be vital in helping us hit our targets and I look forward to seeing how the tools developed by the Octopus Centre for Net Zero support our efforts to tackle climate change.’

Lucy Yu, CEO of the Octopus Centre for Net Zero, added: ‘The climate emergency is the biggest challenge of our lifetime, but good policies and investments can help decarbonise our planet without compromising the quality of life. But no country can solve this crisis on their own.

‘By sharing best practices, tools and models, we have a chance to speed up the much-needed change and get us on the fast-track to net zero. I can’t wait to get started and bring together a team of experts that will drive the knowledge transfer between the energy industry and policymakers.’

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