£3.5m project to put well-being at the heart of the energy transition

The University of Bristol has received £3.5 million to bring together international researchers on a project that puts well-being at the heart of energy system design. 

Funded by UKRI through their Ayrton Challenge Programme, it is one of 13 projects to be given a share of £33 million.

Led by academics from the University of Bristol, the Sustainable, Holistic, and Inclusive Energy Systems for
well-being project (SHINE) is a transdisciplinary project that seeks to investigate the socioeconomic, gender, environmental, health and technological conditions that improve inclusiveness and the sustainability of energy access interventions.

So often, energy systems are designed with linear goals such as the number of households connected to a grid or the number of cookstoves distributed, without consideration of just, effective energy transitions. This can marginalise communities.


SHINE will work with communities and stakeholders in The Gambia and Ghana in West Africa to explore the intersectional realities associated with the energy transition. 

One outcome will include the development of a framework that supports researchers, project implementers, policymakers and communities when designing energy systems.

National stakeholders, such as the Ministry of Energy in both The Gambia and Ghana as well as the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP) have joined the project advisory board to support and align the project with ongoing initiatives.

Led by Dr Sam Williamson, based in Bristol’s Faculty of Science and Engineering, the project is a commitment to building and maintaining equitable partnerships across the globe, emphasizing south-north and south-south knowledge transfer. 

It is also a pledge to place people at the heart of energy system
design and ensure they have a say in their low-carbon future.

Dr Williamson said: “We are really excited about working with our partners in The Gambia and Ghana, developing African-centred, transdisciplinary research and leveraging the expertise and experience of partners in South Africa, Nepal and Brazil in the development of appropriate, impactful, local energy solutions. 

“This project's focus on well-being will put people at the heart of the energy access challenge, driving for equity and inclusion.”