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SEPIA: Sustainable Energy Policy Integrated Assessment
Sustainable Energy Policy Integrated Assessment (SEPIA)
For BELSPO, PISA researchers are involved in a three-year research project (Jan. 2008 – Dec. 2010) called 'Sustainable Energy Policy Integrated Assessment' (SEPIA).
Partners
- The 'Instituut voor Milieukunde' (IMK) of the University of Antwerp (UA)
- The research group 'Menselijke Ecologie' (MEKO) of the Free University of Brussels (VUB),
- The research group 'Centre Liégois d'Etude de l' Opinion' (CLEO) of the University of Liège (Ulg)
Research
The research methodology is interdisciplinary by attempting to integrate insights on energy system dynamics stemming from engineering, economics, policy sciences, sociology and ethics; while at the same time being attentive to the context-dependent nature of such knowledge (by incorporating stakeholder insights).
In the SEPIA project we plan to investigate, at the national level (Belgium), decision support methodologies, procedures, structures and tools for a sustainable energy policy with a specific focus on stakeholder involvement.
The goal of the study is to make accessible and discuss the feasibility of important aspects of 'integrated sustainability assessment' (ISA) in the context of Belgian energy policy, in order to identify consensus and dissent in the possible ISA design among different stakeholder groups, and thus to provide the basis for an ISA procedure adapted to the context of Belgian energy governance (being embedded in a multi-level governance structure).
The study explicitly acknowledges the socio-political and normative background of the debate on energy issues and choices, including sustainable energy.
The SEPIA research unfolds in four phases:
- Methodological preparations (ISA, criteria & indicators for sustainable energy, foresight methodologies, definition of 'core group' and 'stakeholder reference group') (month 1-6)
- Development of representative LT energy scenarios for the Belgian context (month 7-18)
- Assessing the performance of the energy scenarios with the aid of a stakeholder panel (supported by an energy accounting model (LEAP) and a multi-criteria group decision support tool (FMCGDSS)) (month 19-30)
- Communication and dissemination of results (month 31-36)