Life Cycle Management of Energy
and Energy Transitions—Managing
the Complexity of Todays and Future
Energy Systems with a Life Cycle Focus:
Challenges and Methodological
Solutions
Karin Treyer, Roberto Turconi and Alicia Boyano
Abstract To meet climate and sustainability goals a transition of the system of
energy supply and use is needed. However, energy transitions are complex
long-term processes and require a variety of methodologies to steer their direction.
For this purpose, the combination of environmental, social, economic and technical
assessments together with prospective energy scenario modelling is very promising
but there are several challenges that need to be addressed to fully benefit from these
methodologies. This paper presents the discussions held during a conference session on this issue. The solutions proposed facilitate the combination of energy
system modelling frameworks and environmental and social assessments aimed at
developing comprehensive prospective studies and feeding information to decision
making processes for energy transition toward a low-carbon economy.
1 Introduction
In order to reach the pledges made under the Paris Agreement on climate change it
is clear that an ambitious energy transition towards low-carbon solutions involving
every part of the economy is needed [1]. Energy transitions, defined as structural
changes in the way energy services are delivered and used, are inherently complex,
uncertain and difficult to evaluate. In this context, it is increasingly acknowledged
K. Treyer (&)
Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
e-mail: karin.treyer@psi.ch
R. Turconi
ArcelorMittal Global R&D Sustainability, 57283 Maizières-lès-Metz, France
A. Boyano
Joint Research Center, Directorate B5 Circular Economy and Industrial
Leadership, 41003 Seville, Spain
© The Author(s) 2018
E. Benetto et al. (eds.), Designing Sustainable Technologies,
Products and Policies, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-66981-6_27
243
and Energy Transitions—Managing
the Complexity of Todays and Future
Energy Systems with a Life Cycle Focus:
Challenges and Methodological
Solutions
Karin Treyer, Roberto Turconi and Alicia Boyano
Abstract To meet climate and sustainability goals a transition of the system of
energy supply and use is needed. However, energy transitions are complex
long-term processes and require a variety of methodologies to steer their direction.
For this purpose, the combination of environmental, social, economic and technical
assessments together with prospective energy scenario modelling is very promising
but there are several challenges that need to be addressed to fully benefit from these
methodologies. This paper presents the discussions held during a conference session on this issue. The solutions proposed facilitate the combination of energy
system modelling frameworks and environmental and social assessments aimed at
developing comprehensive prospective studies and feeding information to decision
making processes for energy transition toward a low-carbon economy.
1 Introduction
In order to reach the pledges made under the Paris Agreement on climate change it
is clear that an ambitious energy transition towards low-carbon solutions involving
every part of the economy is needed [1]. Energy transitions, defined as structural
changes in the way energy services are delivered and used, are inherently complex,
uncertain and difficult to evaluate. In this context, it is increasingly acknowledged
K. Treyer (&)
Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
e-mail: karin.treyer@psi.ch
R. Turconi
ArcelorMittal Global R&D Sustainability, 57283 Maizières-lès-Metz, France
A. Boyano
Joint Research Center, Directorate B5 Circular Economy and Industrial
Leadership, 41003 Seville, Spain
© The Author(s) 2018
E. Benetto et al. (eds.), Designing Sustainable Technologies,
Products and Policies, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-66981-6_27
243