Although energy models advance rapidly in termsof technical and techno-economic details, social and political aspects and environmental burdensbeyond greenhouse gas emissions are currently underrepresented. However, in light of the European Green Deal and the EU Energy Union Strategy, models must advance in terms of social and environmental considerations to support decision-and policymakers in adequately addressing that environmental burdenand to put “citizens at its core” of the energy transition. In this deliverable, we present key user-needs for environmentaland social aspects that need to be better represented in energy system models (Section 2), and how we have developed and adapted the modelling tools ENVIRO, QTDIAN, and ATOM in response to the identifieduserneeds. We showthree main userneeds regarding social aspects, specifically(i)social impacts on energy politics and policies, (ii) the social acceptance of energy technologiesand infrastructure, and (iii) consumers’behavior in energy models. We furthermore show that users consider relevant the following factors within the environmental aspects of energy scenarios: (iv) demandof raw materials/circularity, (v) the implications on nature and biodiversity, as well as (vi) full life-cycle impactsand externalization. ENVIRO and QTDIANare being developed within SENTINEL in a participatory process by engaging with stakeholdersin the information and development stagesof the model implementation. In contrast, ATOM is adapted by consideringuser-needs especially in the implementationstage. We conclude that we have benefited from the insights of model users and other stakeholders, and that this will allow us to make our modelling tools fit-for-purpose. All three modelling tools will support decision-makers by answering the most importantof the questions usershave risenwithin the SENTINEL stakeholder engagement process. Model-linking within the WP2 and other WPs will ensure that the understanding of environmental and social aspects is strengthened in energy system models and will be embedded in the overall SENTINEL platform.
