Project R-13803

Ex-ante sustainability assessment: the challenge of upscaling and learning. (Research)

We are facing a transition where both how energy and materials are produced are in need of change to meet the challenge of decarbonizing our society. This will require the implementation of alternative technologies. However, these alternative technologies are often still being developed. Yet, their sustainability has to be assessed ex-ante. The integrated techno-sustainability assessment (TSA) jointly developed by VITO, UAntwerp and UHasselt is a state-of-the-art integrated ex-ante SA method. Whereas it accounts for uncertainty, it does not yet address upscaling and learning. The goal of this PhD is to develop methods that allow dealing with upscaling and learning and to integrate these methods into a techno-economic analysis (TEA) or TSA.

01 April 2023 - 31 March 2027