The problem

The development of fuel cells and the emergence of hydrogen as a potentially significant sustainable energy vector have attracted great interest in recent years. Significant public and private research investments have been made, so it is surprising that few quantitative modelling studies have been undertaken to analyse objectively the prospects for the hydrogen economy within the overall energy system. Increasing scientific consensus would assist in promoting acceptance of the outcomes of models. 

Overview:

CASCADE MINTS will develop and use energy and economic models with an emphasis on analysing technological developments. The work will be divided in two parts:

• A focus on modelling, scenario evaluation and analysis of the prospects for a hydrogen-based energy economy to enable a quantitative objective analysis of the conditions under which a transition to such a system is possible
• Using a wide range of existing models to build scientific consensus on the impacts of policies aimed at promoting sustainable energy systems – in particular through technological developments

Contribution to policy development:

CASCADE-MINTS will:

• Assist in the formulation and implementation of sustainable energy and security of supply policies in Europe
• Test the effectiveness of different R&D policies on the development of the ‘hydrogen economy’
• Link researchers and policy-makers, thereby enabling them to spread best practices and share analytical results

Project deliverables

• Impact assessments for various technologies on greenhouse gas emissions and security of supply: renewables (December 2004), nuclear energy (May 2005), CO₂ storage (September 2006)
• Prospects for technological improvement – December 2005
• Various R&D policy scenarios – December 2006
• Final project report – January 2007

Dissemination

• Extensive reporting and exchange of information between partners, the Commission, the research community and energy/environment stakeholders – ongoing
• Peer-reviewed publication of key results – January 2007

Technical information

Project acronym: CASCADE MINTS
Project’s official full title: Case Study Comparisons And Development of Energy Models for INTegrated Technology Systems
Research priority: 3.2. The development of tools, indicators and operational parameters for assessing sustainable transport and energy systems performance (economic, environmental and social)
Specific webpage: Not yet available
Proposal/contract no: 502445
Start date: 01/01/2004
Kick off meeting: 26-27/02/2004
Completion date: 31/12/2006
European Commission scientific officer: Rosseti di Valdabero Domenico (Domenico.Rossetti-Di-Valdalbero@ec.europa.eu)

Coordinator:
Name: Institute of Communication and Computer Systems of the National Technical University of Athens
Abbreviated name: ICCS/NTUA
Address: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
9, Ir. Polytechniou St
157 73 Zografoy
Country: Greece
Tel: (301) 772 2292
Fax: (301) 772 3557
Website: www.iccs.ntua.gr

Partners

Name: Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands
Abbreviated name: ECN
Country: The Netherlands

Name: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
Abbreviated name: CNRS/LEPII-EPE
Country: France 

Name: International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis
Abbreviated name: IIASA-ECS
Country: Austria

Name: Joint Research Centre
Abbreviated name: JRC/IPTS
Country: Belgium

Name: Paul Scherrer Institut
Abbreviated name: PSI
Country: Switzerland

Name: Zentrum fur Europaische WirtschaftsforschungGmbH – Centre for European Economic Research
Abbreviated name: ZEW
Country: Germany

Name: Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft- und Raumfahr e.V. (German Aerospace Centre)
Abbreviated name: DLR
Country: Germany

Name: Universitaet Stuttgart
Abbreviated name: USTUTT/IER
Country: Germany

Name: Centrale Recherche SA
Abbreviated name: CRS/ ERASME
Country: France