Image of Dr Neil Simcock

Dr Neil Simcock

School of Biological and Environmental Sciences

Faculty of Science

Email: N.D.Simcock@ljmu.ac.uk

Telephone: 0151 231 8083

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My research focuses on inequality and vulnerability, particularly in relation to energy systems and the use of energy in the home. Much of my recent work has investigated the causes and consequences of, and potential solutions to, fuel poverty (aka energy poverty). I aim to uncover the institutional and structural arrangements that render some people vulnerable to experiencing fuel poverty, such as the design of housing and energy markets, transitions to "net zero" societies, and the stigmatisation of marginalised groups. I have also undertaken research on how fuel poverty is experienced in everyday life and its impact upon people's mental and physical wellbeing.

Specific strands of research interests include:

• The physical, mental and emotional impacts of various forms of poverty and material deprivation, with a particular emphasis on issues relating to poor housing quality and lack of sufficient domestic energy services (e.g. heating, cooling, lighting etc.). For example, see my paper co-authored with Dr Saska Petrova on the gendered experiences of energy poverty, and the H2020-funded ‘STEP-IN’ project that investigates the role of home energy advice in alleviating the negative impacts of energy poverty.
• The driving forces of material inequality and deprivation, in particular through the development of the concept of ‘energy vulnerability’ via in-depth investigations of the lived-experiences of vulnerable households. This formed the major part of my work on ‘Energy Vulnerability and Urban Transitions’ project from 2015-2018, working alongside Prof Stefan Bouzarovski, Dr Saska Petrova and Dr Harriet Thomson at the University of Manchester. It also resulted in an edited book, as well as papers on ‘Spatializing Energy Justice’ and applying energy vulnerability theory to the issue of heatwaves and inadequate indoor cooling.
• Energy justice and the moral and ethical implications of energy transitions, with a particular focus on unpacking what ‘justice’ means in these scenarios and how it becomes entwined with conflicts and contestations. My PhD focused on local interpretations of justice in relation to ‘community-led’ wind energy developments (see publications in Land Use Policy, Local Environment, and a book chapter). I also worked at the DEMAND Centre alongside Prof Gordon Walker and Dr Rosie Day, conducting research on how energy-use should be positioned within normative theory, and how notions of ‘essential’ energy use shift over time (see publications in the journals Energy Policy, Energy Research & Social Science, and People, Place & Policy).

Degrees

2012, Lancaster University, United Kingdom, PhD
2008, Lancaster University, United Kingdom, MSc Environmental Informatics
2007, Lancaster University, United Kingdom, BA Hons Human Geography

Academic appointments

Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Geography, Liverpool John Moores University, 2018 - present
Lecturer, Geography, University of Manchester, 2018 - 2018
Senior Research Associate, Geography, University of Manchester, 2015 - 2018
Researcher, British Academy, 2015 - 2015
Research Associate, DEMAND Centre, Lancaster University, 2013 - 2015
Research Assistant, Keele University, 2012 - 2013

Postgraduate training

Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice, United Kingdom, Liverpool John Moores University, 2023 - present

Highlighted publications

Upham DP, Simcock ND, Sovacool PB, Contreras DGAT, Jenkins K, Martiskainen DM. 2023. Public support for decarbonisation policies: Between self-interest and social need for alleviating energy and transport poverty in the United Kingdom Energy and Climate Change, 4 DOI Publisher Url Public Url

Sovacool BK, Upham P, Martiskainen M, Jenkins KEH, Torres Contreras GA, Simcock N. 2023. Policy prescriptions to address energy and transport poverty in the United Kingdom Nature Energy, DOI Publisher Url Public Url

Simcock N, Jenkins KEH, Lacey-Barnacle M, Martiskainen M, Mattioli G, Hopkins D. 2021. Identifying double energy vulnerability: A systematic and narrative review of groups at-risk of energy and transport poverty in the global north Energy Research & Social Science, 82 DOI Publisher Url Public Url

Simcock N, Frankowski J, Bouzarovski S. 2021. Rendered invisible: Institutional misrecognition and the reproduction of energy poverty Geoforum, 124 :1-9 DOI Publisher Url Public Url

Calver P, Simcock N. 2021. Demand response and energy justice: A critical overview of ethical risks and opportunities within digital, decentralised, and decarbonised futures Energy Policy, 151 DOI Publisher Url Public Url

Thomson H, Simcock N, Bouzarovski S, Petrova S. 2019. Energy poverty and indoor cooling: an overlooked issue in Europe Energy and Buildings, 196 :21-29 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Day R, Walker G, Simcock N. 2016. Conceptualising energy use and energy poverty using a capabilities framework Energy Policy, 93 :255-264 DOI Publisher Url

Journal article

Okushima S, Simcock N. 2024. Double energy vulnerability in Japan Energy Policy, 191 DOI Publisher Url Public Url

Simcock N, Bouzarovski S. 2023. A cure-all for energy poverty? Thinking critically about energy advice Critical Social Policy, DOI Publisher Url Public Url

Bouzarovski S, Damigos D, Kmetty Z, Simcock N, Robinson C, Jayyousi M, Crowther A. 2023. Energy justice intermediaries: Living Labs in the low-carbon transformation Local Environment, :1-18 DOI Publisher Url Public Url

Martiskainen M, Hopkins D, Torres Contreras GA, Jenkins KEH, Mattioli G, Simcock N, Lacey-Barnacle M. 2023. Eating, heating or taking the bus? Lived experiences at the intersection of energy and transport poverty Global Environmental Change, 82 DOI Publisher Url Public Url

Upham DP, Simcock ND, Sovacool PB, Contreras DGAT, Jenkins K, Martiskainen DM. 2023. Public support for decarbonisation policies: Between self-interest and social need for alleviating energy and transport poverty in the United Kingdom Energy and Climate Change, 4 DOI Publisher Url Public Url

Sovacool BK, Upham P, Martiskainen M, Jenkins KEH, Torres Contreras GA, Simcock N. 2023. Policy prescriptions to address energy and transport poverty in the United Kingdom Nature Energy, DOI Publisher Url Public Url

Hernández D, Yoon L, Simcock N. 2022. Basing “Energy Justice” on Clear Terms: Assessing Key Terminology in Pursuit of Energy Justice Environmental Justice, DOI Publisher Url Public Url

Simcock N, Jenkins KEH, Lacey-Barnacle M, Martiskainen M, Mattioli G, Hopkins D. 2021. Identifying double energy vulnerability: A systematic and narrative review of groups at-risk of energy and transport poverty in the global north Energy Research & Social Science, 82 DOI Publisher Url Public Url

Pellicer-Sifres V, Simcock N, Boni A. 2021. Understanding the multiple harms of energy poverty through Nussbaum’s theory of central capabilities Local Environment, 26 :1026-1042 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Simcock N, Frankowski J, Bouzarovski S. 2021. Rendered invisible: Institutional misrecognition and the reproduction of energy poverty Geoforum, 124 :1-9 DOI Publisher Url Public Url

Calver P, Simcock N. 2021. Demand response and energy justice: A critical overview of ethical risks and opportunities within digital, decentralised, and decarbonised futures Energy Policy, 151 DOI Publisher Url Public Url

Martiskainen M, Sovacool BK, Lacey-Barnacle M, Hopkins D, Jenkins KEH, Simcock N, Mattioli G, Bouzarovski S. 2020. New Dimensions of Vulnerability to Energy and Transport Poverty Joule, DOI Publisher Url Public Url

Petrova S, Simcock N. 2019. Gender and energy: domestic inequities reconsidered Social and Cultural Geography, :1-19 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Thomson H, Simcock N, Bouzarovski S, Petrova S. 2019. Energy poverty and indoor cooling: an overlooked issue in Europe Energy and Buildings, 196 :21-29 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Bouzarovski S, Simcock N. 2017. Spatializing energy justice Energy Policy, 107 :640-648 DOI Publisher Url Public Url

Simcock N. 2016. Procedural justice and the implementation of community wind energy projects: A case study from South Yorkshire, UK Land Use Policy, 59 :467-477 DOI Publisher Url

Simcock N, Mullen C. 2016. Energy demand for everyday mobility and domestic life: Exploring the justice implications ENERGY RESEARCH & SOCIAL SCIENCE, 18 :1-6 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Walker G, Simcock N, Day R. 2016. Necessary energy uses and a minimum standard of living in the United Kingdom: Energy justice or escalating expectations? Energy Research & Social Science, 18 :129-138 DOI Publisher Url

Day R, Walker G, Simcock N. 2016. Conceptualising energy use and energy poverty using a capabilities framework Energy Policy, 93 :255-264 DOI Publisher Url

Simcock N, Walker G, Day R. 2016. Fuel poverty in the UK: beyond heating? People Place and Policy Online, 10 :25-41 DOI Publisher Url

Simcock N. 2014. Exploring how stakeholders in two community wind projects use a “those affected” principle to evaluate the fairness of each project's spatial boundary Local Environment, 19 :241-258 DOI Publisher Url

Simcock N, MacGregor S, Catney P, Dobson A, Ormerod M, Robinson Z, Ross S, Royston S, Marie Hall S. 2014. Factors influencing perceptions of domestic energy information: Content, source and process Energy Policy, 65 :455-464 DOI Publisher Url

Other

Simcock N, Middlemiss L, Ambrose A, Owen A, Martiskainen M. 2023. Written evidence submitted for the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee inquiry on Heating Our Homes Author Url Publisher Url

Simcock N, Ambrose A. 2023. Written evidence submitted for the Environmental Audit Committee inquiry on Heat Resilience and Sustainable Cooling Publisher Url Public Url

Report

Middlemiss L, Simcock N, Ambrose A, Stockton H, Cave T, Francis S, Ambrosio Albala P, Atkins E, Bouzarovski S, Butler C, Collard S, Dawney L, Davies S, Hastie H, Morrison E, Martiskainen M, Robinson C, Snell C, Sharma N. 2023. Tackling fuel poverty: learning from winter research Publisher Url

Middlemiss L, Ambrose A, Simcock N, Martiskainen M, Sheriff G. 2022. Fuel poverty in the cost of living crisis Publisher Url

Robinson C, Simcock N. 2022. How can policy protect fuel poor households from rising energy prices? Publisher Url

Bouzarovski S, Simcock N, Evans S, Crowther A. 2021. Data analysis report for the Urban Living Lab (STEP-IN project final report) Author Url

Simcock N, Willis R, Capener P. 2016. Cultures of Community Energy: International Case Studies Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Walker G, Day R, Simcock N. 2015. What energy uses matter? Fuel poverty beyond heating Publisher Url Public Url

Walker G, Day R, Simcock N. 2015. What counts as 'required' energy? Principles of need in modelling the extent of fuel poverty Publisher Url Public Url

Twigger-Ross C, Brooks K, Papadopoulou L, Orr P, Sadauskis R, Coke A, Simcock N, Stirling A, Walker G. 2015. Community resilience to climate change: an evidence review Publisher Url Public Url

Simcock N, Walker G. 2015. Fuel Poverty and Non-Heating Energy Uses Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Internet publication

Ambrose A, Middlemiss L, Simcock N. 2023. Why heating your home this winter may be even harder than last year Publisher Url

Simcock N. 2023. Curbing the crisis: the impact of Energy Cafés Author Url Publisher Url

Bouzarovski S, Crowther A, Simcock N. 2023. The UK needs a national energy advice service Author Url Publisher Url

Simcock N. 2022. Why lowering everyone’s energy bills is a better solution than targeting only the most vulnerable Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Simcock N, Martiskainen M, Jenkins K. 2021. Low income and living in a rural area increases the risk of double energy vulnerability Publisher Url Public Url

Simcock N, Thomson H, Petrova S, Bouzarovski S. 2020. Heatwaves can kill – research uncovers the homes most vulnerable to overheating Publisher Url Public Url

Middlemiss L, Simcock N. 2019. Energy poverty or just poverty? A response to ‘what’s the problem?’ Publisher Url Public Url

Chapters

Robinson C, Simcock N, Petrova S. 2023. Energy justice and gender Bouzarovski S, Fuller S, Reames T. Handbook on Energy Justice :188-200 Edward Elgar Publishing 9781839102950

Simcock N. 2020. Energy Kobayashi A. International Encyclopedia of Human Geography (Second Edition) :123-135 Elsevier 978-0-08-102296-2 DOI Publisher Url

Willis R, Simcock N. 2019. Consumer (Co-)Ownership of Renewables in England and Wales (UK) Lowitzsch J. Energy Transition: Financing Consumer Co-Ownership in Renewables Palgrave MacMillan. Switzerland DOI Publisher Url

Simcock ND, Petrova S. 2017. Energy poverty and vulnerability: a geographical perspective Solomon , B.D. CKE. Handbook on the Geographies of Energy Edward Elgar Publishing 9781785365621 DOI Publisher Url

Simcock N, Thomson H, Petrova S, Bouzarovski S. 2017. Conclusions Energy Poverty and Vulnerability :249-256 Routledge DOI Publisher Url

Walker G, Simcock ND. 2012. Community Energy Systems Smith SJ, Elsinga M, O'Mahony LF, Eng OS, Wachter S, Lovell H. International Encyclopedia of Housing and Home :194-198 Elsevier Science. Oxford 9780080471631 DOI Publisher Url

Jeong Y, Simcock ND, Walker GP. 2012. Making power differently: Exploring in motives and meanings of community renewable energy developments in cases from the UK and South Korea Davies A. Enterprising Communities Grassroots Sustainability Innovations :105-121 Emerald Group Publishing. Bingley 9781780524849 DOI Publisher Url

Editorial/letter to the editor

Liu E, Simcock N, Martiskainen M. 2022. Editorial: Energy Justice in the Era of Green Transitions Frontiers in Sustainable Cities, DOI Publisher Url

Books (edited)

2017. Energy Poverty and Vulnerability: A Global Perspective Simcock N, Thomson H, Petrova S, Bouzarovski S. Routledge. Abingdon, Oxon 9781138294455 Publisher Url

Energy Poverty and Vulnerability Simcock N, Thomson H, Petrova S, Bouzarovski S. Routledge DOI Publisher Url

External PGR examinations performed:

RMIT University, PhD, Energy Culture: Implications for Energy Retrofit Programmes in Coyhaique, Chile. 2024

Central European University, PhD, Synergies between heating and energy poverty - the injustice of heat. 2021

Lancaster University, MRes, The power of renewable energy co-operatives: How can they contribute to wider socio-ecological innovation in the UK?. 2019

Media Coverage:

Provided an expert quote in a news article in The British Medical Journal, entitled: "How the world is tackling the cold homes health crisis" 2023

Provided an expert quote in an article in "The i", entitled: "Why UK homes can’t cope with heatwaves – and what you can do to stay cool this summer" 2023

Interviewed for the Green Alliance podcast, episode called "How can we tackle fuel and transport poverty in the net zero transition?" 2023

Provided an expert quote in the Vice News article "'Helpful' Money Saving Tips Are Mostly Bullshit". The article was a critique of the idea that energy price rises and fuel poverty can be solved by households being a bit more sensible with their energy consumption - an idea which is demonstrably false and only serves to justify people's suffering. 2022

"Rural people hit hardest by energy and transport poverty" - our research investigating overlapping vulnerability to energy poverty and transport poverty was picked up by the news outlets Future Net Zero and Energy Live News. The coverage relates to the paper Simcock et al (2021) 'Identifying double energy vulnerability' that was published in the journal Energy Research & Social Science. 2021
www.futurenetzero.com
www.energylivenews.com

Article in The Conversation: "Heatwaves can kill – research uncovers the homes most vulnerable to overheating". Relates paper Thomson H, Simcock N, Bouzarovski S, Petrova S. 2019. Energy poverty and indoor cooling: an overlooked issue in Europe. Energy and Buildings, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2019.05.014 2020

Blog post for the website "What's the problem": Middlemiss L and Simcock N (2019) Energy poverty or just poverty? A response to ‘what’s the problem?’. 2019

Podcast: "Energy Access and the Right to a Dignified Life". In this podcast, organised by the Energy Action Project, I contribute to a discussion around energy access and human dignity by explaining how the Capabilities Approach can further understandings of how energy poverty impacts people's wellbeing in multiple and complex ways.

Teaching qualification:

Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice. 2023

Conference presentation:

Toward a just transition: integrating the private-rented sector in decarbonisation, Energy and Climate Change research group seminar, University of Leeds, Oral presentation. 2023

Energy vulnerability in private-rented housing: applying Bourdieu to unpack the systemic drivers of vulnerability, People, Place and Policy Annual Conference, Sheffield Hallam University, Oral presentation. 2023

Addressing the Energy Price Crisis: Targeted Solutions or Radical Universalism?, International seminar: “Energy poverty and justice”, Instituto de Energia e Ambiente, University of Sao Paulo, Oral presentation. 2022

Energy poverty in private-rented housing: Class inequality as the core driver of vulnerability, 3rd Energy Research & Social Science Conference, University of Manchester, United Kingdom, Oral presentation. 2022

The infrastructural politics of energy and gender injustices: norms, expectations and ruptures, RGS-IBG Energy Geographies Research Group webinar series, Joint oral presentation with Dr Saska Petrova (University of Manchester). 2022

Energy poverty and energy justice: a Capabilities Approach, Normative Energy Ethics Conference, Oral presentation. 2021

Double energy vulnerability in the UK’s low-carbon transition, DecarboN8 International Conference 2021, Joint oral presentation with Dr Mari Martiskainen (University of Sussex). 2021

‘Fixing’ energy injustices? The transformative potential of energy advice, Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) Annual International Conference 2021, Oral presentation. 2021

Energy Justice and the Capabilities Approach, Reshaping norms in energy poverty: The capabilities approach in practice, Oral presentation. 2021

Using living labs to engage and support energy poor households, SocialWatt: Connecting Obligated Parties to Adopt Innovative Schemes towards Energy Poverty Alleviation’, Oral presentation. 2021

Identifying double energy vulnerability: a systematic review, Making Decarbonisation Fair conference, Joint oral presentation with Dr Kirsten Jenkins (University of Edinburgh). 2021

Energy advice and energy justice: a report from the STEP-IN urban living lab, The right to fair energy access: Restarting economies without leaving the energy poor behind, Joint oral presentation with Amie Crowther (University of Manchester). 2021

Identifying the vulnerable: energy and transport poverty and beyond, Webinar for Centre for Research into Energy Demand Solutions (CREDS), Joint oral presentation with Dr Kirsten Jenkins (University of Edinburgh). 2020

Award:

Best Paper Award for paper entitled "Energy poverty and indoor cooling: An overlooked issue in Europe", Energy and Buildings journal, https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/energy-and-buildings/about/news#best-paper-awards-of-energy-and-buildings-published-in-the-period-from-2018-to-2022. 2023

Faculty of Science Teaching Award, Liverpool John Moores University. 2023

Best article (runner up) for paper entitled "Necessary energy uses and a minimum standard of living in the United Kingdom: Energy justice or escalating expectations.", British Sociological Association - Climate Change Study Group, https://www.britsoc.co.uk/groups/study-groups/climate-change-study-group/climate-change-article-prize/previous-prize-winners/. 2016

Research Grants Awarded:

Centre for Research into Energy Demand Solutions, Fuel Poverty Evidence, Grant value (£): 20,164.80, Duration of research project: 6 months. 2023

Centre for Research in Energy Demand Solutions, Fuel and transport poverty in the UK’s energy transition (FAIR), Grant value (£): 1,249,000, Duration of research project: 3 years. 2020

Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), Energy poverty in the private-rented sector: exploring the drivers of vulnerability via the lived-experiences of tenants, Grant value (£): 3000, Duration of research project: 18 months. 2019

European Commission (Horizon2020), Sustainable Strategies for Energy Poor Individuals (STEP-IN), Grant value (£): 310,363.10, Duration of research project: 30 months. 2018

British Academy, Community Energy Ownership and Generation, Grant value (£): 21,785, Duration of research project: 6 months. 2015

Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Evidence Review: Locality and community resilience to climate change, Grant value (£): 40,000, Duration of research project: 12 months. 2014

Membership of professional bodies:

Member, Energy Action Scotland. 2021

Fellow, Royal Geographical Society (with IBG).

External committees:

Energy Geographies Research Group, Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), Chair, https://www.energygeographies.org/. 2017

Editorial boards:

Frontiers in Sustainable Cities, Reviews Editor.

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