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How to improve energy efficiency policies to address energy poverty? Literature and stakeholder insights for private rented housing in Europe
Households in the private rented sector (i.e., households renting properties at a market rate from a private landlord), and especially those of lower income, face far more energy poverty issues than the general population, meaning that they are often unable to afford socially and materially required levels of energy services. In this context, energy efficiency […]
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Why energy models should integrate social and environmental factors: Assessing user needs, omission impacts, and real-word accuracy in the European Union
Energy models are used to inform and support decisions within the transition to climate neutrality. In recent years, such models have been criticised for being overly techno-centred and ignoring environmental and social factors of the energy transition. Here, we explore and illustrate the impact of ignoring such factors by comparing model results to model user […]
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Existing tools, user needs and required model adjustments for energy demand modelling of a carbon-neutral Europe
To achieve the European Union’s target for climate neutrality by 2050 reduced energy demand will make the transition process faster and cheaper. The role of policies that support energy efficiency measures and demand-side management practices will be critical and to ensure that energy demand models are relevant to policymakers and other end-users, understanding how to […]
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Wind repowering: Unveiling a hidden asset
Given the abundant availability of resources, the market potential, and their cost competitiveness, onshore wind farms and photovoltaic units are expected to drive the overall growth of renewable energy sources in the next decade. However, Europe is a small and densely populated continent, which results in many countries experiencing a severe shortage of suitable land […]
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Pioneering a performance-based future for energy efficiency: Lessons learnt from a comparative review analysis of pay-for-performance programmes
Energy efficiency targets and funding for reducing energy consumption in buildings play a significant role in the international policy landscape. Energy efficiency can deliver both sustained reductions in energy usage by improving baseline efficiency as well as targeted peak demand reductions. However, despite the many benefits, energy efficiency faces barriers to achieving its full potential. […]
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Monetising behavioural change as a policy measure to support energy management in the residential sector: A case study in Greece
Energy efficiency from behavioural changes will play a key role in meeting future climate targets. Current energy management actions, however, are still dominated by conventional interventions. Furthermore, demand-side transformations based on behavioural actions are hitherto underrepresented in modelling scenarios informing climate policy. In this context, this study aims to explore whether monetisation of behavioural change […]
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Better suited or just more complex? On the fit between user needs and modeller-driven improvements of energy system models
Energy system models are advancing rapidly. However, it is not clear whether models are becoming better, in the sense that they address the questions that decision-makers need to be answered to make well-informed decisions. Therefore, we investigate the gap between model improvements relevant from the perspective of modellers compared to what users of model results […]
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Energy citizenship for inclusive decarbonization: A transdisciplinary framework for creating transformation knowledge
Achieving the European Union’s vision of climate neutrality by 2050 dictates the need to transform the role that citizens can play in decarbonizing the energy system. Yet, “which citizens to involve in this process,” “when to involve them,” and “how to do so fairly and effectively,” are questions that still remain unclear to both experts […]
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State of play of local adaptation planning in the Mediterranean Europe
European cities across the Mediterranean region face common climatic threats. Urbanised areas are highly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change, including climate variability and climate extremes. Cities concentrate population and assets, and losses and damages as a result of climate change impacts such as heat waves, droughts, wildfires, landslides, coastal hazards are likely. […]
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Investigating the market effects of increased RES penetration with BSAM: A wholesale electricity market simulator
Currently electricity markets worldwide encounter a transition phase into cleaner energy. This is specially the case in Greece, where not only the market structure changes to a harmonized EU target model, but also ‘green electricity’ is projected to reach 50% share by 2030 according to the National Energy and Climate Plan of Greece. This paper […]
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Climate mitigation in the Mediterranean Europe: An assessment of regional and city-level plans
In Europe, regions in the Mediterranean area share common characteristics in terms of high sensitivity to climate change impacts. Does this translate into specificities regarding climate action that could arise from these Mediterranean characteristics? This paper sheds light on regional and local climate mitigation actions of the Mediterranean Europe, focusing on the plans to reduce […]
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Model-based policymaking or policy-based modelling? How energy models and energy policy interact
As energy models become more and more powerful, they are increasingly used to support energy policymaking. Although modelling has been used for policy advice for many years, there is little knowledge about how computer-based models actually influence policymaking, and to what extent policymakers influence the modelling process. Here, we empirically investigate (i) whether, how and […]