Better data, better sustainable energy policies
The ‘Scientific reference system on new energy technologies, energy end-use efficiency and energy RTD’ (SRS NET AND EEE) project was initiated to comprehensively evaluate European renewable energy, other clean energy and traditional energy technologies such as those based on fossil fuels and nuclear reactors. The objective was to make available unbiased, organised and scientifically agreed upon technical and economic information for comparisons and recommendations regarding future research and technology development (RTD). The consortium gave special emphasis to development of methodologies for data collection given that comparisons and benchmarking can only be as good as the original data used in the analyses. As the result of close cooperation and coordination of statistical activities in the field of renewable energy sources (RES), the team produced a questionnaire together with the Statistical Division of the Economic Commission for Europe of the United Nations (UNECE), the International Energy Agency (IEA) and Eurostat. The researchers asked national administrations and energy agencies to provide reliable statistics for electricity and heat production, primary supply, the transformation sector, end-use consumption and installed capacity for electricity from RES. Researchers found that technically and commercially mature technologies could be adequately defined by cost, production and efficiency data. However, evaluating new technologies with great potential for technological improvements and cost reductions requires models predicting progress. In addition, the consortium found the most striking data inconsistencies in the general groups of RES, energy end-use efficiency (EEE) and other energy technologies (OET) in order of severity. Private RTD data sources were a particular problem regarding evaluation of EEE. Also, the majority of data on OET were problematic, leading the team to develop a sample data sheet to facilitate standardisation of data collection. The SRS NET AND EEE outcome, the European Scientific Reference System on renewable energy and end-use efficient technology, provides an assimilation of current consistent and high quality data as well as methodology for improved data collection and subsequent comparisons. The results should underpin the EU’s development of future energy-economy-environment models and EU regulations supporting sustainable energy policies and thus make a significant contribution to global climate change mitigation.
