Speaker
Description
The Delphi Exercise on the possible role of fusion energy technology in the future global energy system is a research project funded by the EUROfusion Socio-economic Studies (SES) programme. European research on fusion energy has a long tradition of energy scenario modelling as a way to study the economic and social conditions under which fusion would eventually become an energy technology option in the future. Previous research under the SES programme has emphasised for EUROfusion the importance of participatory socio-economic research with the inclusion of stakeholders from informed civil society. Following this, three reflection groups with civil society participants were organised:
- on the use of the concept of sustainable development in energy governance,
- on the use of modelling in energy foresight research and
- on the use of storylines in foresight research in general.
This Delphi Exercise should be seen as the fourth foresight research activity concerned with researching the possible role of fusion energy technology in the future global energy system. The presentation will discuss the results of the first round in which experts are invited to give their views on four points of attention:
- aspects of future energy policy;
- the use of reference scenarios such as those of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change or the World Energy Council;
- the use of storylines as a mean to construct quantifiable scenario’s;
- the use of drivers such as population growth, climate change, direct energy cost or technology availability.
In conclusion, the presentation will elaborate on how the results of this exercise can inspire future technological and social sciences research on fusion energy.
