"The project has built-in flexibility in planning and addressing topics, to be able to align with the activities of the High-Level Panel and with the new developments in the European policy context (Green Deal, Recovery plan after COVID-19) in the best way. This worked out quite well and DEEDS was able to consistently contribute to the actual discussions on recovery after COVID-19 and decarbonisation targets. However, this resulted in some deviations in the execution of the activities (some ahead of schedule and some postponed) and in the content of the deliverables. All deliverables have been produced within the duration of the project.
In the first part of this reporting period, the activities of the DEEDS-project focused mainly on the realisation of the Research Agenda, which could be downloaded from the DEEDS-website. The delivery of the Research Agenda has been anticipated with respect to the original plans defined in the Grant Agreement. Thanks to the work done by the High Level Panel and the consulting workshops organized by the DEEDS-project, the Research Agenda provided insights on the research gaps and R&I recommendations, linked to the Green Deal, related to energy, industry, cities, mobility, agriculture, finance, fair energy transition and cross cutting topics.
In the second part of the reporting period the DEEDS-project focused on the elaboration of the policy briefs for the six Decarbonisation Pathways. In addition, a special policy brief on the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on Decarbonisation Pathways. Furthermore, Knowledge and Scenario databases were produced. The knowledge base constitutes the quantitative backbone on which the different activities of this project can rely. The Scenario Explorer presents an ensemble of quantitative, model-based climate change mitigation pathways. Moreover the Business Guide was produced that summarises the fast-moving energy policy, technology and societal landscape in Europe.
Last but but not least, several events took place throughout the current reporting period. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic these events had to be organised online. On June 25th, 2020 a session at EUropean Sustainable Energy Week 2020 took place on the topic ""Towards carbon neutrality in a thriving EU industrial sector – markets, investment and financing"". The session discussed financing and de-risking green markets, research and innovation activities, and policies. The session was organised by DEEDS and the sister projects REINVENT and INNOPATH in collaboration with Solar Heat Europe and Bioenergy Europe. The session was followed by more that 250 participants. The Final Conference took place on 15-16 September 2020. Because online, the conference consisted of four different sessions: 1) Decarbonisation pathways for European Member States and Regions; 2) Workshop: Scenario and Knowledge databases for Decarbonisation Pathways in Europe; 3) Decarbonisation: the role of businesses and the pathways for the industrial sector; 4) Decarbonisation challenges for the Green Deal and how to solve them. Overall the DEEDS final conference was followed by more than 190 viewers."
