Pathways to Sustainable European Energy Systems
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Research questions
The overall question to be answered by the project is:
How
can pathways to a sustainable energy system be characterised and visualised
and what are the consequences of these pathways with respect to the
characteristics of the energy system as such (types of technologies,
technical and economic barriers) and for society in general (security of
supply, competitiveness and required policies)?
This question is addressed on three levels; by means of energy systems
analysis (technology assessment and technical-economic analysis), a
multy-discipllinary analysis and an extended multi-disciplinary policy
analysis. From a dialogue with stakeholders (including Vattenfall), the
above question has been divided into sub-questions such as:
•
What is the critical timing for decisions to ensure that a
pathway to a
sustainable energy system can be followed?
•
What are the "key" technologies and systems for the identified
"pathways" -
including identification of uncertainties and risks
for technology lock-in
effects?
•
What requirements and consequences are imposed on the
energy system in case
of a high penetration of renewables?
•
What are the consequences of a strong increase in the use of
natural gas?
• What if efforts to develop CO2 capture and storage fail?
• Where should the biomass be used - in the transportation
sector or in the
stationary energy system?
• Are the deregulated energy markets suitable to facilitate a
development
towards a sustainable energy system?
• Will energy efficiency be achieved through free market forces or
regulatory
action?
• What are the requirements of financing the energy infrastructure
for the
different pathways identified?
Key questions
1. Definition of “pathways”
How will the choice
of criteria influence the design of the pathways towards a sustainable
energy system? Also a discussion around pathways that doesn’t lead to a
sustainable energy system.
2. The current “pathway”
Will the
current “pathway” lead to a
sustainable energy system?
3. Two-three pathways to sustainable European energy systems
How can pathways to a sustainable
energy system be characterized and visualized and what are the consequences
of these pathways? (“Pilot scenarios”)
4. Key technologies and systems
- What are ”key” technologies and systems for the identified “pathways”?
- Where are the greatest uncertainties in technology choices?
- What is critical timing for decisions to ensure that a pathway to a sustainable energy system can be followed?
- What role will the stationary systems (power system, district heating,…) play in the different pathways?
- Where are the critical regions with respect to CO2 emissions, investments etc.?
- What is the role of renewables, nuclear power, energy efficiency, etc.?
- Where and when are the risks for technology lock-in effects?
5. Will a European deregulated market path the way for sustainability?
Are the deregulated energy markets suitable to facilitate a development towards a sustainable energy system?
Are the present market conditions suitable for a development along a pathway towards a sustainable energy system and, if not, can these conditions be changed to facilitate this?
6. Political action and decisions What kind of political action is necessary? What can and should the EU and/or the Member States do politically? What issues have to be addressed at an international level?
7. Acceptance of the society?
What possibilities and obstacles can be foreseen?What are the choices that consumers would like to make which lead to sustainability? How will these affect political decisions, and vice versa?
Chalmers University of Technology
