Supporting Europe’s Energy Policy Towards a Decarbonised Energy System: A Comparative Assessment

Aikaterini Papapostolou, Charikleia Karakosta, Kalliopi-Anastasia Kourti, Haris Doukas and John Psarras
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Aikaterini Papapostolou: School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Decision Support Systems Laboratory, Energy Policy Unit (EPU-NTUA), National Technical University of Athens, 9, Iroon Polytechniou Str., 15780 Athens, Greece
Charikleia Karakosta: School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Decision Support Systems Laboratory, Energy Policy Unit (EPU-NTUA), National Technical University of Athens, 9, Iroon Polytechniou Str., 15780 Athens, Greece
Kalliopi-Anastasia Kourti: School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Decision Support Systems Laboratory, Energy Policy Unit (EPU-NTUA), National Technical University of Athens, 9, Iroon Polytechniou Str., 15780 Athens, Greece
Haris Doukas: School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Decision Support Systems Laboratory, Energy Policy Unit (EPU-NTUA), National Technical University of Athens, 9, Iroon Polytechniou Str., 15780 Athens, Greece
John Psarras: School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Decision Support Systems Laboratory, Energy Policy Unit (EPU-NTUA), National Technical University of Athens, 9, Iroon Polytechniou Str., 15780 Athens, Greece

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 15, 1-26

Abstract: The European Union (EU) aims to prepare its strategy and infrastructure for further decarbonisation of its energy system in the longer term towards 2050. Recent political discussions and research interest focus on ways to accelerate the development and deployment of low-carbon technologies with respect to the targets set for 2030 and 2050. However, the diverse options available that are to be implemented, are policy sensitive and need careful comparative assessment. This paper presents a multi-criteria approach based on an extension of the Preference Ranking Organization METHod for Enrichment of Evaluations (PROMETHEE) method for group decision-making that incorporates fuzzy set theory in order to evaluate alternative transformation pathways for achieving a sustainable energy system in EU. This assessment aims at providing a direction towards a most preferable pathway concept that should be taken into account by a future model-based analysis of the necessary transformation of our energy sector. The results obtained could support policymakers in drawing effective recommendations based on the findings. The added value of this analysis to policymakers is its contribution to plan climate and energy strategies towards a low-carbon transition pathway by using the information of this approach and prioritizing uncertainties through an environmental and energy perspective.

Keywords: climate and energy policy; transformation pathways; low carbon technologies; decision support; multi-criteria analysis; fuzzy PROMETHEE (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (11)

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