Phase 3: Technology Assessment

Phase 3, Technology assessment, will target the holistic assessment of potential eco-efficiency improvements that would result from the implementation of innovative technologies and practices at different stages of the service system. Technologies to be assessed will target specific use sectors, and precedent/subsequent stages of the value chain. Their selection will depend on the specificities of each Case Study, as well as on the results from the baseline eco-efficiency assessment of Phase 2.

Assessments will integrate:

  • Scenarios for technology uptake within the next 5 to 10 years in a sector. Depending on the expected costs and financial benefits compared with the Business-As-Usual scenario, different uptake/penetration schedules will be assumed, based on identified key drivers.
  • The estimation of the value added (additional services or financial cost savings in comparison to the baseline assessment) vs. the financial cost required for technology implementation, as well as relevant costs and benefits for economic actors concerned by the implemented technology.
  • The positive or negative change in selected environmental indicators for the specific stage/ use sector.
  • The footprint of the technology itself, in terms of indirect resource and materials’ usage.

The holistic assessment of eco-efficiency improvements for the entire service system will be performed both under baseline (BAU) assumptions and for alternative scenarios, in order to provide a better understanding of the broader, system-wide impact of innovations. The main questions to be answered will concern:

  1. Whether an improvement in the eco-efficiency of one or more stages would result in an improvement in the overall eco-efficiency of the analysed system, and
  2. How different external and policy drivers could affect technology uptake.
     

For the purposes of analysing the pertinent socio-technical dynamics, different policy and management scenarios will be elaborated, based on different levels of technology uptake and policy instruments (regulation, standards, economic incentives, etc.). Results will provide insight on how different driving forces and structures can influence the large-scale implementation of innovative technologies, as well as on potential instruments and tools that could be applied to foster technology uptake.

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