This project was research project running from April 2006 to September 2008 and supported by a grant of the 6th Framework Programme of the European Commission (Sustainable Development, Global Change and Ecosystems). It was a multi-partner and multi-disciplinary project.

The research involved 26 partners which are amongst Europe’s leading centres for research (e.g. universities and research institutes) on the subject. It was co-ordinated by FONDAZIONE ENI ENRICO MATTEI, Italy.

The CASES Co-ordination Action had three principal objectives:

1. To compile detailed estimates of both external and internal costs of energy production for different energy sources for the EU-25 Countries and for some non-EU Countries under energy scenario s to 2030;
2. To evaluate policy options for improving the efficiency of energy use, taking account of the full cost data;
3. To disseminate research findings to energy sector producers and users and the policy making community.

These objectives reflected the general requirement of the Sustainable Energy Systems Work Programme to address “questions of socio-environmental damages of energy production and consumption” and “to make a comparative cost analysis for present and future energy generation alternative s”. The CASES CA was also relevant to the commitments undertaken by the European Union within the Kyoto Protocol. A detailed knowledge of the full cost structure of energy production within the EU-25 and some key non-EU countries is crucial to reach efficient decisions concerning emission reduction plans and JI/DCM projects. Objective I was met in a series of 7 inter-linked work packages that, in a dynamic way, evaluate and compare system costs associated with alternative energy technologies, including social and environmental damage costs. Objective II was met in a series of 4 work packages that evaluate alternative policy instruments to internalize environment related externalities in the EU Member States and in selected non-EU countries. Objective III was met through two stakeholder meetings that serve to validate and disseminate the projects outputs, and through a final conference presenting the results of the CA, and finally through a variety of dissemination means appropriate to the likely different audiences. The success of the project was judged in terms of the acceptability of the estimated energy costs by the scientific and policy communities and by the use of these costings in a policy context.

For more information: cordis.europa.eu