Research interests

My research is about local government strategies for investment in low carbon energy. I am a member of Heat and the City and my recent work has included research into Net Zero Carbon Localities with Professor Jan Webb (EnergyREV funded, published Sept 2020). With Jan Webb and Dan van der Horst, we have been researching how devolved, regional and local authorities are responding differently to goals of low energy, low carbon development and building retrofit. This Multi-level Governance and Energy Demand research contributes to the Policy and Governance theme in the Centre for Research into Energy Demand Solutions (CREDS).

My doctoral thesis (completed 2020, part-time) analysed how formal local authority decision making tools and procedures shape the development of energy projects.

Previous research includes: Local Engagement in UK Energy Systems, together with Jan Webb and Dave Hawkey, we examined the current and future contribution of local authorities to a low carbon, affordable and secure UK energy system (UKERC and ETI); and, Heat and the City, led by Jan Webb, which explored sustainable heating provision in urban areas, with a particular focus on heat networks (RCUK Energy Programme).

Access our research on sustainable heating for low energy buildings and cities at https://heatandthecity.org.uk.

Journal Articles

Fuentes González F, Webb J, Sharmina M, Hannon M, Pappas D, and Tingey M (2021) Characterising a local energy business sector in the United Kingdom: participants, revenue sources, and estimates of localism and smartness. Energy (article in press) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2021.120045

Lane M, van der Horst D, Tingey M, Smith C, and Webb J (2020) Social innovation in the shadow of policy failure: Energy efficiency in self-build housing. Global Transitions, 2, 180-189 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.glt.2020.08.001

Tingey M, and Webb J (2020) Governance institutions and prospects for local energy innovation: laggards and leaders among UK local authorities. Energy Policy, 138, 111211, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2019.111211

Van Veelen B, Pinker A, Tingey M, Taylor Aiken G, and Eadson W (2019) What can energy research bring to social science? Reflections on 5 years of Energy Research & Social Science and beyond. Energy Research and Social Science, 57, 101240 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2019.101240

Creamer M, Eadson W, Van-Veelen B, Pinker A, Tingey M, Braunholtz-Speight T, Markantoni M, Foden M, and Lacey-Barnacle M (2018) Community energy: Entanglements of community, state, and private sector. Geography Compass,  12(7) e12378 https://doi.org/10.1111/gec3.12378

Webb J, Hawkey D, McCrone D, and Tingey M (2016) House, home and transforming energy in a cold climate, Families, Relationships and Societies, 5(3), p411-429 https://doi.org/10.1332/204674316X14758447787663

Webb J, Hawkey D, and Tingey M (2016) Governing cities for sustainable energy: The UK case, Cities, 54, p28-35 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2015.10.014

Books

Hawkey D, Webb J, Lovell H, McCrone D, Tingey M, and Winskel M (2016) Sustainable Urban Energy Policy: Heat and the city. Abingdon: Routledge

Recent Reports and Policy Briefs

Tingey M, and Webb J (2020) Net zero localities: ambition & value in UK local authority investment. Glasgow: Energy Revolution Research Centre and University of Strathclyde Publishing. ISBN 978-1-909522-59-6

Wilson C, Jones N, Devine-Wright H, Devine-Wright P, Gupta R, Rae C, and Tingey M (2020) Common types of local energy system projects in the UK: EnergyREV Policy Briefing June 2020. Glasgow: University of Strathclyde

Wilson C, Jones N, Devine-Wright H, Devine-Wright P, Gupta R, Rae C, and Tingey M (2020) Common types of local energy system projects in the UK. Glasgow: EnergyREV and University of Strathclyde Publishing. ISBN 978-1-909522-657

Fuentes González F, Webb J, Sharmina M, Hannon M, Pappas D, and Tingey M (2020) Characterising a local energy business sector in the United Kingdom: participants, revenue sources, and estimates of localism and smartness. EnergyREV Local Energy Businesses and Financial Practices Working Paper August 2020. Edinburgh: University of Edinburgh

Kuzemko C, Britton J, and Tingey M (2019) Local Sustainable Energy Taskforce: Policy Briefing March 2019. Warwick: University of Warwick

Tingey M, and Webb J (2018) Who else will need to deliver? The role of community and local institutions. In: Lloyd H. eds. A distributed energy future for the UK: An essay collection. London: Institute for Public Policy Research

Hawkey D, Tingey M, and Webb J (2018) Workshop report International workshop on public ownership of energy. Edinburgh: University of Edinburgh

Webb J, Tingey M, and Hawkey D (2017) What We Know about Local Authority Engagement in UK Energy Systems: Ambitions, Activities, Business Structures & Ways Forward. London, UK Energy Research Centre and Loughborough, Energy Technologies Institute

Tingey M, Webb J, and Hawkey D (2017) Local Authority Engagement in UK Energy Systems: Highlights from Early Findings. Loughborough and London: The ETI and UKERC

Tingey M (2017) Local Heat & Energy Efficiency Strategies and Regulation of District Heating: Workshop report to Scottish Government. Edinburgh: University of Edinburgh

All outputs are on our research website

Selected Blogs

Making local authority energy ambition a reality in the UKERC Newsletter (June, 2020)

Taking stock of the role for local action on clean energy in the UK’s decarbonisation efforts (Oct, 2019)

 Local Authorities play key role in providing clean energy for all summarises our findings (Nov, 2017)

Research groups

• Heat and the City
• University of Edinburgh Energy and Society Network
• UK Centre for Research into Energy Demand Solutions CREDS
• UK Energy Research Centre UKERC
• European Sociological Association (RN12 Environment & Society)
• Researching the Interface between Policy and Practice for Local Environmental Sustainability RIPPLES