TESSERE – Theme 9

TESSERE – THEME 9 – PROJECT OBJECTIVES

TESSERE – THEME 9 – OBJECTIVES AND SCIENTIFIC QUALITY: this project stems from the need to tackle the urgent issue of energy transition, such to contribute to reduce carbon emissions and achieve a net-zero emission society. Nonetheless, energy transition is not always a smooth path. It encounters drawbacks due to the energy poverty trap particularly relevant in marginal areas within and across regions. Energy poverty refers to the inability of individuals to invest in low-carbon houses or energy efficient heating and appliances in their homes. This problem is on the rise due to increasing energy prices, economic downturns affecting national and regional economies, and the prevalence of energy-inefficient homes in marginal areas. The specific case study of this project is centred on the Capitanata area, in the South of Italy. This spatial unit, although is inclined to tourism and agricultural activities, hosts a national park, is rich in cultural traditions and natural resources, and is supplied with the largest wind energy arena of Italy, suffers from demographic decrease, inadequate supply of or access to essential services providing high costs and multiple operating issues, other than lagging behind in terms of income distribution. The strengthening between the enhancement of the local territory and social objectives of the Red II Directive, offers the opportunity for Capitanata, to play an important role for the practical implementation of energy transition. In these settings, the concept of energy sovereignty provides the establishment of sustainable development models overcoming the energy poverty trap.

Given the above, this project aims at investigating the potential contribution of Capitanata to reduce energy poverty from a demand-side perspective. The proposal intends to achieve six main objectives intends: 1. a socio-economic (including social housing) and energy market analysis of the territory; 2. the definition of energy efficiency in buildings and associated market attributes; 3. the definition of energy poverty in marginal areas; 4. the gather of reliable data and private and social housing preferences for energy transition investments and energy efficiency in buildings; 5. policy analysis (definition of adequate energy transition strategies to alleviate energy poverty in private and social housing for the practical implementation of a low carbon economy in the area under study); 6. knowledge dissemination.

The use of ad-hoc consumer behaviour analysis techniques, including survey analysis, and the modelling of private and social household perceptions and relationships, play an important role in achieving the above objectives. In this context, the main value-added of the TESSERE project is a well-designed and multi-stage survey and analysis of private and social household preferences to reduce emissions in view of implementing an efficient energy supply chain in the investigated area. In this background, in particular, Random Utility Models (RUM) play an important role to help quantifying, through consumer behavior analysis, relevant socio-economic trade-offs for a low-carbon economy. In addition, the project offers the identification of relevant gaps in energy efficiency demand-side and a tailored support to the decision-making process by reducing the asymmetric information across private and social households, relevant stakeholders and policy makers. Finally, the strength of the project is the application of the proposed methodology to different geographical contexts, allowing reliability and robustness of survey and consumer behaviour approaches in energy poverty and transition contexts. The following description depicts the detail of each objective (OBJ), as indicated above, and highlights the contribution, dissemination of and expected results, and the advancement of knowledge.

OBJ 1. Socio-economic (including social housing) and energy market analysis of the territory.

This objective intends to analyse the socio-economic (including social housing) and energy poverty of the Capitanata area. The analysis investigates main trends in socio-economic features of the territory under investigation and provides a snapshot of social housing and energy poverty in the area. Methodology: This objective employs a desk analysis based on various indicators and data sources at different spatial and territorial/local levels. Expected results: The expected result of this objective is a thorough investigation of the socio-economic and energy poverty context of the Capitanata. Advancement of knowledge: This objective is a first step to put together several information and data gathered from different sources with the aim to offer a comprehensive framework of the socio-economic and energy poverty context of Capitanata. Dissemination of results: The main findings of this objective are disseminated through a report showing the main trends in energy poverty in the area and capture relevant feedback from the local community.

OBJ 1.1: Management and coordination

The general coordination is carried out by the Project Coordinator of Tematica 9, a permanent staff member. He ensures the correct implementation, management, and coordination of the project activities.

OBJ 2. Definition of energy efficiency in buildings and associated market attributes.

This objective intends to define energy efficiency in buildings and associated market attributes by exploring the relevant scientific literature and main regulatory insights at EU, national and regional level. Methodology: this objective employs a literature review analysis based on international scientific platforms and official regulatory documents. Expected result: to identify main market attributes contributing to energy efficiency in buildings in the Capitanata area. Advancement of knowledge: This objective will allow knowing the potentialities of energy efficiency in buildings in order to understand how these can respond to the local demand from private and social housing (Objective 3). Dissemination of results: The main findings of OBJ 2 are disseminated through the presentation of a report to a local workshop and international conferences.

OBJ 3. The definition of energy poverty in marginal areas.

This objective intends to define relevant insights of energy poverty alleviation in private and social housing by exploring relevant scientific literature in marginal areas with similar features to that of Capitanata at European and international level. Methodology: This objective employs a literature review analysis based on international scientific platforms. The expected result of this objective is to identify main issues and research clusters contributing to the understanding of alleviating energy poverty in private and social housing. Advancement of knowledge: This objective will allow knowing main research trend issues, gaps and insights for future research in order to understand how these can respond to a better understanding of alleviating energy poverty in private and social housing. Dissemination of results: The main findings of this objective are disseminated through presentations at local or national or international workshop and/or conferences.

OBJ 4. The gather of reliable data and private and social housing preferences for energy transition investments and energy efficiency in buildings.

This objective offers a deep understanding of the needs and behaviours of private and social households for the development of energy efficiency in buildings in the Capitanata context. Methodology: This objective employs both a qualitative and quantitative approach through focus groups, survey analysis and the modelling of private and social household preferences for energy efficiency. The expected result of this objective is to identify main socio-economic and environmental trade-offs occurring in marginal areas of Capitanata for a better understanding of alleviating energy poverty in private and social housing and contribute to achieve a low-carbon economy in these regional contexts. Advancement of knowledge: The expected result of this objective is to offer a demand analysis based on qualitative and quantitative approaches for the development of energy efficiency in buildings in the studied area. In particular, it will quantify manifest and latent household behaviours and monetize the trade-offs between efficient alternatives characterizing the structure of energy efficiency in buildings in the investigated areas. Dissemination of results: The main findings are disseminated through the participation in international conferences and submission of articles to relevant peer-review journals.

OBJ 5. Policy analysis: Definition of adequate energy transition strategies to alleviate energy poverty in private and social housing for the practical implementation of a low carbon economy in the area under study.

Based on the results obtained from the ad-hoc demand-side analysis in OBJs 1-4, the present objective proposes the identification of adequate energy transition strategies to help the decision making process to reduce energy poverty in private and social housing and contribute to a low carbon society in the Capitanata area. Methodology: This objective employs a backcasting analysis to overcome the main drawbacks for the effective implementation of energy efficiency in buildings and recution of energy poverty in the Capitanata area. In particular, it intends to close the gap between bottom-up policy insights, deriving from the results of the demand-side analysis, with top-down policy strategies such as the National Strategy for Inner Areas, Next Generation EU and National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). Advancement of knowledge: This objective is the first attempt at regional level leading to a comprehensive policy iinsights for proposing adequate energy efficiency strategies to reduce energy poverty in marginal areas. Expected results: The expected result of this objective are addressed by adequate policy suggestions to contribute to close the gap between top-down and bottom-up strategies and visions with the aim to respond to the development goals of the National Strategy for Inner Areas and the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) in the area of Capitanata. Dissemination of results: The main findings of this objective are disseminated through the participation in international conferences and/or submission of articles to relevant peer-review journals at the conclusion of the project activities.

OBJ 6. Knowledge dissemination.