REPLI works closely together with supranational and government bodies to support the development and implementation of effective policies to promote sustainable energy production and energy demand. Our broad range of experts within all the steps of the policy making process work on energy policy issues with an emphasis on the analysis necessary to frame, design, and evaluate policy remedies to sustainable energy development. REPLI assists with scenarios for energy futures which take into account the sustainable development goals, such as improved energy efficiency and adoption of renewable energy. REPLI believes capacity building is central to achieving sustainable development. Therefore, we provide capacity building activities whose goal is to increase the participants' ability to assess and address the crucial questions related to policy choices and subsequent implementation of sustainable development strategies, based on an understanding of the specific challenges and possibilities of each country.
Sustainable development as a framework for energy and climate policies
Our research areas include: green growth and sustainable development interactions, including job and business creation; assessment of climate mitigation (incl. renewable energy), and adaptation options given local socio-economic and resource conditions.
Energy system modelling
Provision of advanced tools and expertise, supporting national and international energy policy making. Being in the forefront of open access modelling. Advancing the international development of TIMES and Balmorel models, and improving representation of transport sector in energy system models, supported by GIS analyses. READ MORE
Energy economics, policy analysis and energy demand modelling
New areas include design of energy markets with high share of variable renewable energy, economics of wind energy, and analysis of economic effects from energy and environmental policies and savings, demand forecast, and analysis of high-frequency individual energy demand data. READ MORE
Climate change impacts, risks and adaptation
Research focuses on improving the integration of economic approaches with detailed physical and statistical assessments within a systemic framework. Specific areas are climate change adaptation decision support, damage and adaptation costs and benefits, climate services, the links between regional climate, water, energy, land use, and behaviour and economics. READ MORE
Policy analysis and recommendation in developing countries context
We develop and use various analytical tools to understand energy transition and local innovation systems in a developing country context. Our research focuses on how to develop favourable enabling framework conditions (institutional, legal and financial) for the diffusion and integration of renewable energy and energy efficiency.
We have conducted a number of larger projects aimed at improving framework conditions for diffusion of renewable energy and energy efficiency in developing countries, such as the Technology Needs Assessment project (58 countries), the FIRM project (6 countries), all of those providing policy recommendations.
In conjunction with these activities, a significant body of research on barrier analysis, enabling frameworks and local systems of innovation has been published in high-level peer reviewed journals.
Climate-related energy and emission planning
For the past 25 years we have been involved in energy planning at national, sectoral and regional levels. In most developing countries, national energy plans have recently been supplemented by Low Emission Development Strategies (LEDS), national emission forecasts, such as Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC), sectoral plans, such as Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs), and technology transfer and diffusion plans, such as Technology Action Plans (TAPs).
In collaboration with national and regional consultants, we have in the past 5 years provided support to the development of 7 LEDS, 14 NAMAs, 58 TAPs and 37 INDCs.
We have published a large amount of internationally recognized guidance material on approaches and methodologies, and research on the effects of various implementation strategies has been published in recognized international journals.
Business and implementation models for rural electrification
For the past 20 years, we have been involved in analysing, planning, and implementing institutional frameworks for rural electrification, including grid-extension, mini-grids and stand-alone systems with various levels of integration of renewable energy. This has included analysis of different business models (public, community based or private) for providing access to energy services for peri-urban and rural populations.
Projects in this area range from consultancy projects that provide analytical and institutional support to the Energy Agency and the Rural Electrification Agency in Burkina Faso, to analysing business models for rural electrification related to East African agro-industries in the EC-funded project, PACEAA. PACEAA was funded by the EC COOPENER programme and worked in close collaboration with two UNEP/GEF projects in East Africa.
Research projects include analysis of effectiveness of business models for diffusion of individual solar solutions for rural areas and two PhD projects that analyse private-sector led business models for mini-grids in Kenya and cooperative and public-sector led mini-grids in Burkina Faso.
Training, capacity building and institutional strengthening
We have considerable experience in providing training, capacity building and institutional strengthening. We have been responsible for training and institutional support to National Designated Entities (NDE) for the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) in 30 countries and our staff has provided short- and long-term analytical and institutional support in-house support to ministries and agencies in developing countries, such as Zambia, Lesotho, Burkina Faso and India.
We also regularly conducts tailor-made training in Denmark for participants from developing countries such as the 'NAMA academy' and the 'Green Energy and Low-Carbon Development Course'.
Energy demand modelling applying econometrics and experimental methods
Our methods and applications include demand forecasts, energy savings, building operation optimisation, demand response, and the impact from international trade patterns.
Urban systems and green economy
Research in connections between liveable cities, urban infrastructure, energy, water and local and global ecosystems in order to make cities smarter and more sustainable. Multidisciplinary approaches enable integrated solutions to social, economic and environmental challenges addressing households, facilities, businesses and regions. Transition to a green economy (incl. the bioeconomy) requires developing new technologies, value chains, behaviours, and regulatory options. READ MORE
Regulation, policy analysis and energy economics
In this research area we are coupling several energy and emission markets, regulatory requirements for future renewable based energy systems, economic efficiency and uncertainty related to policy instruments, and ownership and public engagement.
Transport economics
Assessment of the economic effect of transport policies, e.g. capacity provision, pricing and taxation, and regulation of urban transport. Analyses of travel demand and the relationships between the transport sector and the economy in general, especially the housing and labour markets. READ MORE