@article{SuesserGaschnigCeglarzetal.2021, author = {S{\"u}sser, Diana and Gaschnig, Hannes and Ceglarz, Andrzej and Stavrakas, Vassilis and Flamos, Alexandros and Lilliestam, Johan}, title = {Better suited or just more complex?}, series = {Energy}, volume = {239}, journal = {Energy}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0360-5442}, doi = {10.1016/j.energy.2021.121909}, pages = {32}, year = {2021}, abstract = {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 think models should address. Thus, we ask: What are the differences between energy model improvements as perceived by modellers, and the actual needs of users of model results? To answer this question, we conducted a literature review, 32 interviews, and an online survey. Our results show that user needs and ongoing improvements of energy system models align to a large degree so that future models are indeed likely to be better than current models. We also find mismatches between the needs of modellers and users, especially in the modelling of social, behavioural and political aspects, the trade-off between model complexity and understandability, and the ways that model results should be communicated. Our findings suggest that a better understanding of user needs and closer cooperation between modellers and users is imperative to truly improve models and unlock their full potential to support the transition towards climate neutrality in Europe.}, language = {en} } @article{KleanthisStavrakasCeglarzetal.2022, author = {Kleanthis, Nikos and Stavrakas, Vassilis and Ceglarz, Andrzej and S{\"u}sser, Diana and Schibline, Amanda and Lilliestam, Johan and Flamos, Alexandros}, title = {Eliciting knowledge from stakeholders to identify critical issues of the transition to climate neutrality in Greece, the Nordic Region, and the European Union}, series = {Energy research \& social ccience}, volume = {93}, journal = {Energy research \& social ccience}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {2214-6296}, doi = {10.1016/j.erss.2022.102836}, pages = {15}, year = {2022}, abstract = {There are considerable differences in the pace and underlying motivations of the energy transition in the different geographical contexts across Europe. The European Union's commitment to climate neutrality by 2050 requires a better understanding of the energy transition in different contexts and scales to improve cooperation of involved actors. In this article, we identify critical issues and challenges of the European energy transition as perceived by stakeholders and investigate how these perceptions vary across geographical contexts. To do so, we couple a policy document analysis with research based on stakeholder engagement activities in three different scales, national (Greece), regional (Nordic Region) and continental scale (European Union). Our findings show that stakeholder perspectives on the energy transition depend on contextual factors underlying the need for policies sensitive to the different transition issues and challenges in European regions. They also reveal cross-cutting issues and challenges among the three case studies, which could lead to further improvement of the cross-country collaboration to foster the European energy transition.}, language = {en} } @article{ChatterjeeStavrakasOreggionietal.2022, author = {Chatterjee, Souran and Stavrakas, Vassilis and Oreggioni, Gabriel and S{\"u}sser, Diana and Staffell, Iain and Lilliestam, Johan and Molnar, Gergely and Flamos, Alexandros and {\"U}rge-Vorsatz, Diana}, title = {Existing tools, user needs and required model adjustments for energy demand modelling of a carbon-neutral Europe}, series = {Energy research \& social science}, volume = {90}, journal = {Energy research \& social science}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {2214-6296}, doi = {10.1016/j.erss.2022.102662}, pages = {20}, year = {2022}, abstract = {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 further improve the models and whether they are tailored to user needs to support efficient decision-making processes is crucial. So far though, no scientific studies have examined the key user needs for energy demand modelling in the context of the climate neutrality targets. In this article we address this gap using a multi-method approach based on empirical and desk research. Through survey and stakeholder meetings and workshops we identify user needs of different stakeholder groups, and we highlight the direction in which energy demand models need to be improved to be relevant to their users. Through a detailed review of existing energy demand models, we provide a full understanding of the key characteristics and capabilities of existing tools, and we identify their limitations and gaps. Our findings show that classical demand-related questions remain important to model users, while most of the existing models can answer these questions. Furthermore, we show that some of the user needs related to sectoral demand modelling, dictated by the latest policy developments, are under-researched and are not addressed by existing tools.}, language = {en} } @article{SuesserMartinStavrakasetal.2022, author = {S{\"u}sser, Diana and Martin, Nick and Stavrakas, Vassilis and Gaschnig, Hannes and Talens-Peir{\´o}, Laura and Flamos, Alexandros and Madrid-L{\´o}pez, Cristina and Lilliestam, Johan}, title = {Why energy models should integrate social and environmental factors}, series = {Energy research \& social science}, volume = {92}, journal = {Energy research \& social science}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {2214-6296}, doi = {10.1016/j.erss.2022.102775}, pages = {102775 -- 102775}, year = {2022}, abstract = {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 needs and real-world observations. We firstly identify concrete user needs for better representation of environmental and social factors in energy modelling via interviews, a survey and a workshop. Secondly, we explore and illustrate the effects of omitting non-techno-economic factors in modelling by contrasting policy-targeted scenarios with reality in four EU case study examples. We show that by neglecting environmental and social factors, models risk generating overly optimistic and potentially misleading results, for example by suggesting transition speeds far exceeding any speeds observed, or pathways facing hard-to-overcome resource constraints. As such, modelled energy transition pathways that ignore such factors may be neither desirable nor feasible from an environmental and social perspective, and scenarios may be irrelevant in practice. Finally, we discuss a sample of recent energy modelling innovations and call for continued and increased efforts for improved approaches that better represent environmental and social factors in energy modelling and increase the relevance of energy models for informing policymaking.}, language = {en} }