Figure 1
The “input page” of the MICATool: The user can enter data on energy savings to assess the MI of selected EE measures. (Edited by the authors).
Figure 2
The “results page” of the MICATool: The quantification, monetisation and CBA of MI delivered for the various indicators are accompanied by graphs. (Edited by the authors).
Figure 3
Indicators for Sustainable Energy Development (ISED) by IAEA – modified from (Meyar-Naimi & Vaez-Zadeh, 2012).
Figure 4
The DSR framework, modified from Meyar-Naimi & Vaez-Zadeh (2012), IAEA (2004), and OECD (Parris, 1996). The “Capacity-Building” element is introduced as an incremental link within the planning system.
Table 1
Agenda of the MICATool training session.
| MICATOOL TRAINING AGENDA | |
|---|---|
| Introduction |
|
| MICATool presentation |
|
| Discussion and Q&A session |
|
| Conclusion |
|
Table 2
Participants in trainings on the MICATool use, delivered within the SEED MICAT project frameworks.
| LIST OF PARTICIPANTS IN TRAININGS ON THE MICATOOL USE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of organisations represented by the participants | 11 | Number of trainings | 7 |
| Total number of participants | 21 | Number of countries | 7 |
| Absolute number of participants and organisations per country | Austria (AU): 4 | National Energy Agency | |
| Bulgaria (BG): 2 | Research institutes (2) | ||
| Spain (ES): 3 | Regional Energy Agency | ||
| Greece (GR): 5 | National Energy Agency, Ministry of the Environment and Energy | ||
| Croatia (HR): 5 | Regional energy agencies (2), Research institute | ||
| Poland (PL): 1 | Research Foundation | ||
| Portugal (PT): 1 | Regional Energy Agency | ||
Figure 5
Methodology visualisation – illustrated by the authors.
Table 3
PGs detected during the Training sessions on the MICATool use.
| PG# | PG TITLE | COUNTRY | PARTICIPANTS’ QUOTES ON THE MICATOOL USE: |
|---|---|---|---|
| PG1 | Public/Private investments on EE & Fiscal Incentives | BG, PL, PT | “The tool can support an evaluation of EE national funding schemes” (PL – Survey response quote) |
| “The MICATool can help us with incentives and subsidies design, related to property taxing” (PT – Training Q&A session) | |||
| “[…] the tool can support us in our work with the Ministry on comparing policies towards public sector uptake of EE measures” (BG – Training Q&A session) | |||
| PG2 | Labor, Employment & Business-oriented measures | AU | “The MICATool can support assessing measures on […] business measures within the UFI frameworks (Domestic Environmental Funding Program)” (AU – Training Q&A session) |
| PG3 | Building sector measures & EP | AU, BG, ES, GR, HR, PL, PT | “The tool can support us in household and building envelope schemes” (AU – Training Q&A Session) |
| “There is interest in using the tool for heating-related measures in the residential sector” (PL – Training Q&A session) | |||
| “(The tool can support in) assessment of a program for EE renovation of the building stock” (BG – Survey response quote) | |||
| “The improvements of the National Building Renovation program can be achieved via the MICATool” (HR – Training Q&A session) | |||
| “In the Asturias region, we could envisage using the tool for the review of the regional energy strategy, and for targeted improvements within our current lines of action, such as enhancing EE and tackling EP” (ES – Survey response quote) | |||
| “[…] the EP alleviation is a major goal for Portugal; having a quantitative part on justifying measures is very important” (PT – Training Q&A session) | |||
| “As we are working on energy poor households, […] it would be interesting to further explore via this tool social housing rental rates, or market rental rates” (BG – Training Q&A session) | |||
| PG4 | Energy system transitions & Renewables | AU, GR, PT | “The MICATool can support assessing measures on industry […] within the UFI frameworks (Domestic Environmental Funding Program)” (AU – Training Q&A session) |
| “We are already using the tool for strategies on heating and cooling.” (GR – Survey response quote) | |||
| “[…] the tool can support assessments for public local funds for the installation of photovoltaic (PV) panels” (PT – Training Q&A session) | |||
| PG5 | Transportation (Fuel Switch & Modal Shift) | BG, ES | “The tool could be highly valuable for evaluating future measures, (e.g., the promotion of electric mobility), by assessing not only energy savings but also the wider economic and social impacts.” (ES – Survey response quote) |
Table 4
PBs detected during Training sessions on the MICATool.
| PB# | PB TITLE | COUNTRY | PARTICIPANTS’ QUOTES ON THE MICATOOL USE: |
|---|---|---|---|
| PB1 | Data Availability & Data Security | AU, BG, ES, GR, HR, PL, PT | “Outdated datasets on EP in Poland might lead to miscalculations; thus, the MICATool is seen as valuable to be used mostly on the national level – and not on regional/local assessments” (PL – Training Q&A session) |
| “(The tool) can also verify some data estimations present in the public debate, i.e., regarding the annual number of deaths because of the air pollution” (PL – Survey response quote) | |||
| “[…] barriers are focused on the importance of data recovery and the implementation of mechanisms to recover real and effective information. Currently, this is a challenge for regional administration.” (ES – Survey response quote) | |||
| “The historical and projection data pre-existing in the tool (e.g., national energy mix, prices, GDP, etc.) need to be updated annually so that the tool results are accurate.” (BG – Survey response quote) | |||
| “The unavailability of adequate data for the industry sector might render the initial energy savings assessment challenging” (AU – Training Q&A session) | |||
| “The CBA hasn’t been implemented enough; this approach can improve the documentation of future policies” (HR – Training Q&A session) | |||
| PB2 | Indicators interpretation misalignment & Inefficient indicators | BG, PL, PT | “In terms of EP, the tool uses SILC indicator; we use LIHC more often” (PL – Survey response quote) |
| “Certain complex indicators need to be further explained (to the user)” (PT – Survey response quote) | |||
| PB3 | Lack of available contextualised methodologies & specialised expertise | BG, HR | “There is no alternative tool currently available used on a national level in these policy areas; thus, the training on the MICAT tool is of high value” (BG – Training Q&A session) |
| “The language barrier is an issue for use of the tool by local authorities; low knowledge of English” (BG – Training Q&A session) | |||
| “Organisational and data-management and assessment skills can create a barrier that goes beyond the tool” (HR – Training Q&A session) | |||
| “(A barrier to the MICATool’s use) is people’s per se willingness to learn something new” (HR – Survey response quote) | |||
| PB4 | Communication and Knowledge Transfer | AU, BG, ES, HR, PL, PT | “The quantification capabilities of the tool on energy sector aspects are very useful for capturing and communicating results with authorities” (ES & AU – Training Q&A session) |
| “The tool shows that silo-breaking between expertise, both at the preparatory and the output stage can support and further benefit holistic, documented policy-making” (HR – Training Q&A session) | |||
| “The results by the MICAT tool can be used for public debates and support decision making for authorities” (PL – Training Q&A session) | |||
| “[…] extremely useful for researchers and agencies in backing up and justifying the beneficial impacts of certain measures, and therefore to inform politicians and decision-makers.” (PT – Training Q&A session) |