ENSYSTRA — Energy Systems in Transition

Results in brief

Energy Systems in Transition

By signing the Paris Agreement, the global society, including the EU and its member states, have agreed upon “holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 °C above preindustrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 °C above preindustrial levels”. To meet the objectives stated in the Paris Agreement, a worldwide energy transition is necessary, not only in terms of how energy is supplied, but also in terms of how energy is transformed and used; an energy system transformation. The far-reaching implications of the energy system transition for technologies, infrastructure, market organisations, consumer behaviour and governance are only partially understood. This challenges the scientific community to develop the interdisciplinary knowledge to better understand the possibilities and impacts of energy system changes, linking analyses of energy technologies, infrastructure and systems with policy approaches, actor behaviour and business models. The Energy Systems in Transition (ENSYSTRA) training network of academic and secondment partners (companies and (semi-)government bodies) is a direct response to this challenge. The ENSYSTRA network put together a study of key energy technologies and greenhouse gas mitigation options in the North Sea region in terms of (techno-economic and sustainable) potentials, system integration modelling, and spatial aspects at different spatial scales. It includes political and social drivers, as well as market and energy infrastructure issues. The network combines collaboration between different disciplines, modelling arenas, and involves relevant energy industries and regional authorities. This is important for the North Sea region, which constitutes the main focus area of this programme, as well as for other comparable regions, both in Europe and the rest of the world. The overall objectives of ENSYSTRA are to: -develop long term collaborations in the field of (energy) systems analysis between the project partners -advance methodological and modelling capabilities in the field of energy system analysis -improve linkages between academic disciplines, industrial sectors and government bodies relevant to supporting the energy transition process of the North Sea region -have wider impact on relevant scientific arenas coming together in energy system integration and transition management -contribute to accessible energy science based on open -source, -data, -access and – knowledge -train 15 energy professionals (ESRs) with a strong interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral perspective on energy transition, with strong insight in the linkages between different science fields and methods, and skilled in the practice of open science. -to provide the 15 ESRs with key skills and competences to apply interdisciplinary analysis and state- of-the-art science in an industrial, governmental and applied knowledge institutes setting.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

To facilitate the necessary energy transition, there is an urgent need for highly trained professionals with the scientific knowledge and professional skills to analyse, understand and design relevant (new) energy systems and governance in different sectors and administration. The proposed project Energy Systems in Transition (ENSYSTRA) aims to train 15 ESRs in this field. The objectives of ENSYSTRA are 1) to develop state-of-the-art science of energy systems transition, scenario analysis and energy modelling tools with emphasis on interdisciplinary model collaboration, 2) to provide ESRs with interdisciplinary, inter-sectoral and applied perspectives on the energy transition, 3) to provide new skills and competences for interdisciplinary analysis, 3) to establish collaboration between key universities and their networks, 4) to create and increase linkages between different academic disciplines, applied research, industry and the public sector, 5) develop links and synergies between relevant scientific arenas, and 6) to contribute to accessible energy science based on open source work environments. By focussing on a prominent ‘’living lab’’ of the energy transition, the North Sea region, the project will bring together a strong network and analytical capacity to understand energy system & scenario modeling; new energy technologies & infrastructures; actor behavior & interactions; and policy & market design, linking the regional to the international scale. Through a carefully designed training programme, ESRs are trained in both scientific and transferable skills with ample opportunity to collaborate between different projects and partners. The total effort will result in major progress in the field of energy system analysis and transition modelling. By the combined use and improvement of a range of modelling tools and methods, the project will deliver integral insights in energy transition pathways, policy implications and options for the North Sea region.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

RIJKSUNIVERSITEIT GRONINGEN · GroningenCoordinatorNetherlands
AALBORG UNIVERSITET · AalborgDenmark
ARGE-NETZ GMBH & CO KG · HusumGermany
Aalborg Portland A/S · AalborgDenmark
CHALMERS TEKNISKA HOGSKOLA AB · GoteborgSweden
COMMUNITY ENERGY SCOTLAND LIMITED · InvernessUnited Kingdom
ENGIE ENERGIE NEDERLAND NV · ZWOLLENetherlands
EUROPA-UNIVERSITAET FLENSBURG · FlensburgGermany
GOTEBORG ENERGI AB · GoteborgSweden
IZT INSTITUT FUER ZUKUNFTSSTUDIEN UND TECHNOLOGIEBEWERTUNG GEMEINNUTZIGE GMBH · BerlinGermany
LYSE AS · StavangerNorway
NEDERLANDSE AARDOLIE MAATSCHAPPIJ BV · ASSENNetherlands
NEDERLANDSE ORGANISATIE VOOR TOEGEPAST NATUURWETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK TNO · Den HaagNetherlands
NRG PALLAS BV · PettenNetherlands
NV NEDERLANDSE GASUNIE · GroningenNetherlands
Norwegian Energy Partners · OsloNorway
Norwegian Oil and Gas Association · StavangerNorway
Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult Limited · GlasgowUnited Kingdom
SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT · EdinburghUnited Kingdom
SCOTTISH POWER ENERGY NETWORKS HOLDINGS LIMITED · BLANTYREUnited Kingdom
SHELL GLOBAL SOLUTIONS INTERNATIONAL BV · 's-Gravenhage (Den Haag)Netherlands
SPF OCEAN RAINFOREST · KALDBAKFaroe Islands
STATENS ENERGIMYNDIGHET · EskilstunaSweden
STATKRAFT ENERGI AS · OsloNorway
Sea NRG B.V. · ROTTERDAMNetherlands
THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH · EdinburghUnited Kingdom
UNIVERSITETET I STAVANGER · StavangerNorway
World Wind Energy Association e.V. · BonnGermany
wpd windmanager GmbH & Co. KG · BremenGermany

ENSYSTRA · Energy Systems in Transition

Results in brief

Energy Systems in Transition

Project objective

Participants

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