Simon Elam

Simon Elam is a Principal Research Fellow at University College London's Bartlett School of Environment, Energy & Resources, where he serves as Director of the Smart Energy Research Lab (SERL) and Smart Energy Research Group (SERG). With over 10 years of experience in Business Intelligence and Information Management prior to academia, he brings extensive expertise in transforming data into actionable insights for energy research.

His educational background includes:

• Master of Science from University of New South Wales (2008)
• Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from University of Lancaster (1994)

Simon's research focuses on improving the evidence base in the end-use energy demand sector, with particular emphasis on socio-technical factors influencing energy consumption in residential buildings. His work bridges data science, energy policy, and behavioral analysis to understand how households use energy and how this can be optimized for sustainability. He has established the thriving Smart Energy Research Group (SERG) that conducts empirical, data-driven research investigating the drivers of energy demand in domestic buildings, utilizing large-scale datasets from smart meters and other sources.

His publications demonstrate a strong focus on real-world energy data analysis, with particular attention to how external factors like the cost-of-living crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic impact household energy consumption patterns. His work combines advanced statistical methods with practical policy implications, creating a bridge between academic research and actionable insights for energy sector stakeholders.

Simon leads several major research projects, most notably the £7m Smart Energy Research Lab (SERL) and the £9m Energy Demand Observatory and Laboratory (EDOL), both funded by EPSRC. He also directs the MAGC EDGE Evaluation Study for the World Bank across multiple countries including Colombia, Indonesia, and South Africa, which evaluates green building certification systems in developing markets.

His professional activities include extensive policy contributions, conference presentations, and consultancy work with government agencies and international organizations. He has served as an invited speaker at cross-government Climate Work events, contributed to COP26 materials, and provided expertise to organizations including BEIS, Ofgem, and the World Bank.