Energy technology roadmap and stakeholders perspective : Establishment of social criteria for energy systems

Abstract

This report will inform about the development and selection of social indicators for the measurement of social effects of energy systems. As in the NEEDS project the aim of Workpackage 2 is to define social indicators for the assessment of social effects of energy systems, we applied a multi-step-approach. In a first step, we looked for existing indicators available in publications from the last twenty years. The keywords "social indicator", "sustainability", "environmental indicator" and "energy indicator" have been used to organise this research process. As a result of this research process 1320 indicators could be found. In a second step, these indicators have been proved according to the following meta-criteria:

1. The clarity of the indicators. 2. Whether the indicators are simple and logical. 3. Whether the indicators can be applied throughout Europe. 4. Whether they combine social and energy system-related aspects.

Only 148 of the 1320 criteria passed this step of the research process. These indicators have been proved according to three main questions, which should make sure that the indicators are suitable with the requirements of the NEEDS project:

1. Whether they can be applied to future technologies. 2. Whether their focus is on the level of countries and not only on the regional level. 3. And whether the indicators allow differentiating between energy technologies. Only 26 of the 148 indicators passed this filter process and are able to measure the social dimension of present and future energy systems. These indicators have been attributed to concepts derived from the theoretical concept of social compatibility (Häfele/Münch/Renn 1985). With reference to the theoretical concept of social compatibility we allocated the indicators to four main criteria, these criteria are:

1. Continuity of Energy Service over Time 2. Political Stability and Legitimacy 3. Social Components of Risk 4. Quality of Life.

For every criterion suitable indicators have been defined and added. Those mentioned criteria and indicators build the basis of our social indicator-set. The indicators will be measured with reference to the four main life cycle phases of energy systems: energy extraction and processing, transport, power plant (conversion to electricity) and waste management (considering the entire back-end). An updated version of indicators will be the outcome of a Stakeholder-Delphi. The stakeholders are invited to the Delphi to give a crucial input for the final version of the social indicators. The results of the Delphi and the final set of the social indicators will be added to the present report and complete it.