ALBERT

Description: In this deliverable, we focus on the third and final step of the overall SENTINEL stakeholder engagement strategy and we aim (a). to present stakeholder feedback on the usefulness of the SENTINEL modelling results for the case studies regarding the improvement of stakeholders’ decision-making as well as recommendations for improved integration of model components, and (ii). to produce a final set of results and lessons learnt after further model application within the case study framework. To meet these objectives, we applied a four-tier participatory multi-method approach consisting of stakeholder interactions in 10 events (workshops, conferences, focus groups, bilateral meetings, etc.), in which SENTINEL modelling teams and more than 90 stakeholders participated. We discussed with stakeholders about 12 model applications to the case studies (9 for the ontinental and 3 for the National case study) to examine the usefulness of our models and modelling results as well as identify modelling gaps requiring further improvements. During the different stakeholder engagement activities, modellers had the chance to receive various perspectives from multiple stakeholders. Discussion topics spanned from general issues related to energy system modelling, like model integration and intercomparison as well as its added value and complementarity with other approaches, to more specific ones, focusing on learning curves for technology costs and infrastructural needs, crucial environmental criteria to be considered, or the behavioural change importance for achieving decarbonisation. Stakeholders also provided useful advice in terms of disseminating and further exploiting modelling results. We also present further modelling refinements that SENTINEL modellers have implemented or planned for providing more useful and policy-relevant implications that can be leveraged by policymakers and civil society. Moreover, we elicit key modelling challenges and lessons learnt based on the model application process to the case studies and reflect on further research areas regarding energy system modelling. One important lesson learnt from our work is that modellers need to put more effort into involving non-technical audiences in the energy modelling process by making sophisticated outputs more understandable to them. This can further enable the mainstreaming of energy system modelling, as stakeholders with no background in this area can also provide feedback on the relevance of modelling and their needs. Furthermore, we also find out that stakeholders with technical background pay close attention to how various models were integrated and how modelling outcomes compare to those of other models when using similar scenario specifications and assumptions. We observe that further research and modelling studies should aim at better capturing the effects of fossil-fuel price uncertainty and eliciting strategic choices about a quicker reduction in the reliance on fossil fuels, particularly Russian oil and gas. In addition, stakeholders are interested in learning how citizen-led energy transition pathways can be realised and consider that people-powered storylines should be further disseminated in energy scenario specifications. Finally, we find out that behavioural change is a critical challenge towards achieving the climate neutral goal.

Description: 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.

Description: In this deliverable, we aim to (i). identify and specify policy-relevant scenarios, along with the respective energy targets, and qualitative narratives to base modelling runs on, and (ii). identify contextual critical issues and challenges in energy system planning, and specific research questions, to which the SENTINEL models will attempt to provide answers, accounting for particularities of diverge spatial scales. The main research questions of our work are: “What scenarios should we apply in each of the SENTINEL case studies?” and “What are the main challenges and research questions by decision- and policymakers that the SENTINEL models should be able to answer?”