Regional energy demand analysis portal (REDAP) digitalisation: Enabling better government decision-making in the building & transport sectors

Abstract

Worldwide, there is an increasing awareness and sense of urgency about the need to transition towards efficient, sustainable and low-carbon energy systems. This process, however, involves the complex task of performing integrated energy-demand analysis which helps to formulate the necessary clean and optimised energy supply strategies. For this reason, today's governments are supporting collaborative research initiatives that will enable better-informed government decision-making on the rollout of smart energy systems. This ERA-Net-backed Regional Energy Demand Analysis Portal (REDAP) project [1] is one such initiative. REDAP aspires to become a globally-recognised digital methodology for estimating regional energy demand within the built environment. Informed by the recommendations of the UN's Initiative on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM), the REDAP consortium will improve, automate, standardise and replicate an existing and proven building sector energy demand analysis technique and incorporate into it a new methodology for analysing transport energy demand. The resulting 'spatio-temporal' model will provide governments with regional-specific insights into the integrated and ever-changing socio-economic and technological drivers behind this demand. By enabling governments to monitor and report on regional energy performance, REDAP is expected to address the targets of multiple Sustainable Development Goals, including: 7. Affordable and Clean Energy, 11. Sustainable Cities and Communities, and 12. Responsible Consumption and Production.