iDesignRES and its cutting-edge modelling tools are validated across 5 European regions, spanning macro-regions and large industrial clusters. Through analysing decarbonisation scenarios, our tools address local energy transition needs, fostering industrial-urban symbiosis, circularity, and socio-economic market models. Witness the development of energy strategies through analysing short-to-long-term planning in regions like the North Sea and Lombardy, serving as baselines for further optimisation and validation.
The North Sea region demonstrator encompasses 102 NUTS Level 2 regions across 5 countries – Norway, Denmark, Sweden, UK, Germany and the Netherlands – that border the North Sea. The North Sea region is experiencing a rapid growth in wind energy production. Moreover, it plays a pivotal role in connecting the hydropower-dominated energy systems of Scandinavia, leveraging their large water reservoir storage capacities, to the rest of Europe. Beyond renewable energy, the North Sea region also provides Europe with a large share of its demand for oil and gas, and a significant pipeline infrastructure is in place. In the near…
Continue ReadingThe South-Eastern region replication case, comprising Greece and Bulgaria, encompasses a total of 19 NUTS Level 2 regions. Both countries are embarking on significant energy transitions, as evidenced by the formulation of new National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) spanning the period from 2021 to 2030. These NECPs underscore ambitious targets for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction and the expansion of renewable energy sources, including offshore wind, hydrogen, and energy storage solutions such as batteries and pump hydro facilities. Additionally, Greece has committed to phasing out lignite by 2028/2025, marking a decisive shift towards cleaner energy sources. Furthermore, recent developments…
Continue ReadingThe Greater Region of the Basque Country, also known as Euskal Herria, is the combination of two NUTS2 regions of Spain (Basque Country and Navarre) and a NUTS3 region from France (Pyrénées-Atlantiques). Characterised by a high industrialisation level, including steel, foundries, pulp and paper, oil refinery, agro-food, and cement plants, the region also reflects a rich socio-cultural heritage deeply rooted in Basque language and traditions, among the oldest in Europe. However, joint industrial strategies across the regions are limited, with each area pursuing its own agenda and strategies. In the Basque region, the regional government has created the Basque Net-Zero…
Continue ReadingThe Lombardy eco-region situated in Italy, is a large European industrial cluster in Italy gathering 160 members. The cluster is charting its course towards a greener future through the Regional Programme for Energy, Environment and Climate (PREAC). With targets stretching to 2030 and a vision extending to 2050, the Lombardy eco-region aims to reduce energy consumption by 28% to 32% across all sectors compared to 2005 levels, while increasing renewable energy production to between 31% and 33% of total energy use. To achieve this goal, the Lombardy region encourages self-consumption and the creation of energy communities, alongside promoting storage systems.…
Continue ReadingThe fifth use case that will be demonstrated in iDesignRES will focus on the electricity and gas interconnection between the Ukrainian grid and Central Europe grid. The interconnection is of interest to achieve fast-growing wind energy, phase down coal, safe nuclear energy, and face geopolitical uncertainty. As for now, only national-level models have been elaborated without information on regional planning, grid expansion or investment location. This use case will investigate the expansion of iDesignRES models and tools to highlight their operability outside of the EU. Through this use case, iDesignRES will focus on: - The alignment of Ukrainian energy transition…
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