The Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth (RITE) and Fondazione Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici (CMCC) collaborate on the empirical and modeling analysis of new disruptive trends of technological and social innovation for reducing energy demand. RITE and CMCC will develop the Low energy demand empirical and modeling work in a post pandemic world project
10 months from 21/05/2021 to 31/03/2022
General objectives
The project Low energy demand empirical and modeling work in a post pandemic world aims at shedding new light on the impact of technological and social transformations on energy demand. This requires improving the representation of energy utilization in models used to evaluate climate and energy scenarios and to improve the calibration of the models based on big data.
CMCC role
The project foresees the collaboration of RITE and CMCC – as well as other research institutes worldwide – to help improve modeling tools and their empirical calibration and help design new low energy demand scenarios.
At CMCC the project is managed by the SEME Division, within the RFF-CMCC European Institute on Economics and the Environment.
Activities
The following tasks are foreseen:
- Empirical analysis of the impact of the COVID pandemic on electricity demand patterns. For this task, we’ll use a variety of data sources (electricity use and transmission statistics, smart meter electricity metering) to evaluate the impact of the harsh lock down measures in Europe on electricity demand patterns, and their repercussions for transitioning to a low-energy-demand world.
- Modeling the implications of smart working from home on buildings’ energy demand. This task will evaluate the implication of home working on buildings demand. We will use the EDGE-WITCH modeling framework, to explore different scenarios of increased remote work in a post-pandemic world. Data from the COVID pandemic will be used to calibrate the scenarios. The modeling work will estimate the energy demand implications for both residential and commercial buildings, and their break down into different end-uses.
- Co-leadership of the activities of the Synthesis working group within the EDITS community work. This will include co-organizing online meetings, and drafting a document synthetizing the work of the other working groups. In addition, active participation in other working groups.
Expected results
A paper and two reports are foreseen:
- Paper “Empirical analysis of the impact of the COVID pandemic on electricity demand patterns”
- Report “Modeling the implications of smart working from home on buildings’ energy demand”
- Report summary of synthesis working group activities