Godfrey Boyle
I’m Emeritus Professor of Renewable Energy in the Open University's Faculty of Mathematics, Computing and Technology.
I’ve led the OU teams that have produced various courses and study packs on renewable and sustainable energy, most recently T206 ‘Energy for a Sustainable Future’.
My main research interests are in renewable energy, particularly wind and solar power, energy systems modelling and energy policy.
I'm also a visiting professor at The Energy and Resource Institute (TERI) University in New Delhi, India, a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), a member of the IET Energy Sector Panel, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) and a Trustee of the National Energy Foundation.
In June 2012, I participated in a 'Great Wind Debate' on UK onshore wind, held at Dartington Hall in Devon and chaired in 'Question Time' format by the BBC's Jonathan Dimbleby. The debate was professionally videoed (though not by the BBC) and short extracts have been posted on YouTube, at:
http://www.youtube.com/user/TRESOCify?feature=mhee
In June I also contributed a 10 minute audio podcast about the United Nations Rio+20 conference on Sustainable Development, and participated in a 30 minute post-Rio roundtable discussion. These podcasts are available on the Open University's part of I-Tunes U, at:
http://itunes.apple.com/itunes-u/rio+20-united-nations-conference/id538502636?mt=2
Contact Information
Email: g.a.boyle@open.ac.uk
Phone: +44(0)1908 653336
Fax: +44 (0)1908 653858
Room: N2004, Venables building
Selected Publications
Boyle, G. (ed) (2012) Renewable Energy (3rd Edition), Oxford University Press, 470pp.
Boyle, G. (2012) ‘Solar Photovoltaics’, in Boyle, G.(ed) Renewable Energy (3rd Edition), Oxford University Press.
Boyle, G., Everett, R., Peake, S. and Ramage, J. (2012) (eds) Energy Systems and Sustainability, Oxford University Press, 654 pp.
Boyle, G. and Everett, R. (2012) "Integration", in Boyle, G. (ed) Renewable Energy (3rd Edition, in press) Oxford University Press.
Boyle, G. (2010) "Renewable Energy Technologies for Electricity Generation" in Moselle, B., Padilla, J. and Schmalensee, R. (eds) Renewable Energy in Electric Power Systems: Theory, Practice, Policy, Earthscan, pp34-57.
Boyle, G. (2009) “Cities and Climate Change: Leading to a Low Carbon London”, Chapter 15 in Wilson, G et al (eds.) Environment, Development and Sustainability, Oxford University Press (in press)
Boyle, G., Allen, P and Bull, J. (2008) "Supply-side options" in The Oil Crunch: Securing the UK's Energy Future, First report of the Industry Task Force on Peak Oil and Energy Security, October, pp 37-42
Boyle, G. (2008) "Positive outlook: is a 100% renewable energy future viable?", Energy Engineering, August pp 13-14
Boyle, G. (ed) (2007) "Renewable Energy and the Grid: The Challenge of Variability" Earthscan, London, pp 240. ISBN 1844074188.
Boyle, G. (2007) "A Tale of Two Countries: Non-Nuclear Sustainable Energy Futures for the Germany and the UK", in Elliott, D. (ed) Nuclear or Not? Palgrave Macmillan, pp 183-196.
Boyle, G. (2007) "Long-term Sustainable Energy Scenarios", in Elliott, D. (ed) Sustainable Energy: Opportunities and Limitations Palgrave Macmillan
Bentley, R. and Boyle, G. (2007) “Global Oil Depletion: Forecasts and Methodologies", Environment and Planning B, Special Feature on Scenarios, Pion, London
Boyle. G. (2007) “Offshore Wind: the Potential for 25% of UK Electricity by 2024” Wind Engineering, Volume 31 No 2, pp 65-74.
Boyle, G. (2005) "Non-Nuclear Sustainable Energy Futures: What the UK can Learn from Germany", Science in Parliament, Number 62-3, Summer.
Current Projects
Energy Systems Modelling: I developed the computer-based model DREAM (Dynamic Regional Energy and Emissions Assessment Model) for evaluating energy demand and supply, and associated carbon emissions, in cities, regions and nations. DREAM was used in EU- and EPSRC-funded energy studies of Leicester, Milton Keynes and Barcelona in the 1990s. A new project aims to extend this work, taking advantage of new software tools and approaches now available, to produce an hourly simulation model of the UK Energy System, as part of the Zero Carbon Britain Project.
Conferences: I have organised, with EERU colleagues, a series of major conferences at the Open University on energy and environmental issues. These include "Nuclear or Not" (March 2005), "Locating Renewables in Community Contexts" (November 2005), and "Coping with Variability" (January 2006). The conferences were held in the OU Berrill Theatre and web-cast world-wide (http://stadium.open.ac.uk/berrill). I also organised the conference 'AT@40' held at the Architectural Association, London, in March 2012.
Policy I am active in current national debates about future UK sustainable energy policy.
CV
Initially trained in electrical engineering (Grad IERE, Fellow, IEE), I pursued a career in scientific journalism, working for Electronics Weekly as communications correspondent then as founding editor of the ‘alternative technology’ magazine Undercurrents, before joining the OU as a Lecturer in Design in 1976.
Teaching
As a member of the T206 ‘Energy for a Sustainable Future’ course team, I produced two DVDs for the course on 'Carbon Capture and Storage' and 'European Sustainable Energy Futures'. I also contributed to units on Sustainable Energy in London for the course U116 Environment.
I am collaborating with TERI University in Delhi on the production of new post graduate Certificate/ Diploma courses in renewable and sustainable energy. This project is part-funded by the UK and Indian Governments, as part of the UK-India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI).
Links
National Energy Foundation:
http://www.nef.org.uk
OU Energy & Environment Research Unit: http://eeru.open.ac.uk/
OU Course T206 ‘Energy for a Sustainable Future’:
http://www.open.ac.uk/T206
Oxford University Press, link for Energy Systems and Sustainability:
http://www.oup.co.uk/isbn/0-19-926179-2
Oxford University Press, link for Renewable Energy:
http://www.oup.co.uk/isbn/0-19-926178-4
Earthscan, link for Renewable Electricity and the Grid, The Challenge of Variability
http://www.earthscan.co.uk/?tabid=1159
Page Last Updated: 6 June, 2012