The Energy Union Framework Strategy laid out on 25 February 2015 has embraced a citizens-oriented energy transition based on a low-carbon transformation of the energy system. The success of the energy transition pillar in the Energy Union will hinge upon the social acceptability of the necessary reforms and on the public engagement in conceptualizing, planning, and implementing low carbon energy transitions. The ENABLE.EU project will aim to define the key determinants of individual and collective energy choices in three key consumption areas - transportation, heating & cooling, and electricity – and in the shift to prosumption (users-led initiatives of decentralised energy production and trade). The project will also investigate the interrelations between individual and collective energy choices and their impact on regulatory, technological and investment decisions. The analysis will be based on national household and business surveys in 11 countries, as well as research-area-based comparative case studies. ENABLE.EU aims to also strengthen the knowledge base for energy transition patterns by analysing existing public participation mechanisms, energy cultures, social mobilisation, scientists’ engagement with citizens. Gender issues and concerns regarding energy vulnerability and affluence will be given particular attention. The project will also develop participatory-driven scenarios for the development of energy choices until 2050 by including the findings from the comparative sociological research in the E3ME model created by Cambridge Econometrics and used extensively by DG Energy. The findings from the modelling exercise will feed into the formulation of strategic and policy recommendations for overcoming the gaps in the social acceptability of the energy transition and the Energy Union plan. Results will be disseminated to relevant national and EU-level actors as well as to the general public.

Building on the insights of the recently finalized AURES project, AURES II investigates auction design options in more detail to determine their policy performance depending on different of policy objectives and give recommendations on their use. We apply a multi-methodological approach, including literature review, theoretical analysis, case studies, surveys, and empirical and quantitative methods such as econometric analysis and model simulations. The project expands the empirical base created in AURES in several directions. It continues the monitoring of ongoing and planned auction schemes. Case studies will now be complemented by a comprehensive online auction database, and quantitative analysis of how auction design features affect auction performance. The effects of auctions are further explored in two directions: (i) Developments in RES sector value chains and innovation processes in reaction to auctions, and (ii) Changes in financing patterns of RES projects in reaction to certain auction design specifications. AURES II will inform currently ongoing auction-related policy debates: (i) Challenges of cross-border openings of auctions; (ii) the question of technology-neutrality, i.e. of combining two or more RES-E technologies in one auction; and (iii) future challenges, including the necessity for and requirements towards auctions due to changing electricity markets, generation patterns, and other framework conditions such as actor diversity. The multi-methodological approach is accompanied by a strong involvement of relevant stakeholders including policy makers and industry representatives. The project builds upon and expands the strong network from AURES, allowing policy makers and industry to exchange expectations, experiences and ideas. This active dialogue allows stakeholder to learn from best practice and facilitates capacity building across borders in Europe. AURES II contributes to the EC’s communication activities in the area of RES auction design.

Over the last decades water governance has drastically evolved, progressively moving from a resource management silo approach to the Integrated Water Resources Management. The validation of innovative and cross sector governance is the forthcoming step to face the multi-dimensions societal challenges such as the climate change impact, population growth at the global scale and ensure a safe cross-sectorial water access and uses at the local scale. The next chapter of water governance still needs to be framed with the clear challenge of involving equally all the stakeholders including the citizen to allow transparency, inclusiveness, and accountability. The governance is foreseen as one major lever to support and orientate water policy and sectoral policies impacting the water sector. Water Energy Food Ecosystem (WEFE) nexus needs to be valued to embrace all the water uses in a sustainable manner across generations. The main objective of InnWater (Promoting social INNovation to renew multi-level and cross sector WATER governance) is to provide a set of digital tools and services (that will be gathered in InnWater Governance Platform) to support tailored multi-level and cross-sector water governance, associated with economic and financial mechanisms to support EU green deal transition while ensuring water systems sustainability. The InnWater project will deliver a governance assessment matrix, quintuple helix and citizen (trust) engagement framework, WEFE Nexus economic and resources allocation simulation including household water tariff and environmental costs, a self-sustaining governance community composed of 5 pilot sites in FR, UK, HU, SP, IT addressing different water challenges, a set of raising awareness and training tools, the identification of replication opportunities in at least 14 EU basins and a set of policy, regulation and economic recommendations to support EU policy implementation and new orientations.

SET-Nav will support strategic decision making in Europe’s energy sector, enhancing innovation towards a clean, secure and efficient energy system. Our research will enable the EC, national governments and regulators to facilitate the development of optimal technology portfolios by market actors. We will comprehensively address critical uncertainties and derive appropriate policy and market responses. Our findings will support the further development of the SET-Plan and its implementation by continuous stakeholder involvement. These contributions of the SET-Nav project rest on three pillars: The wide range of objectives and analytical challenges set out by the call for proposals can only be met by developing a broad and technically-advanced modelling portfolio. Advancing this portfolio and enabling knowledge exchange via a modelling forum is our first pillar. The EU’s energy, innovation and climate challenges define the direction of a future EU energy system, but the specific technology pathways are policy sensitive and need careful comparative evaluation. This is our second pillar. Using our strengthened modelling capabilities in an integrated modelling hierarchy, we will analyse multiple dimensions of impact of future pathways: sustainability, reliability and supply security, global competitiveness and efficiency. This analysis will combine bottom-up ‘case studies’ linked to the full range of SET-Plan themes with holistic ‘transformation pathways’. Stakeholder dialogue and dissemination is the third pillar of SET-Nav. We have prepared for a lively stakeholder dialogue through a series of events on critical SET-Plan themes. The active involvement of stakeholders in a two-way feedback process will provide a reality check on our modelling assumptions and approaches, and ensure high policy relevance. Our aim is to ensure policy and market actors alike can navigate effectively through the diverse options available on energy innovation and system transformation.