Development of a Data Set for Continental Hydrologic Modelling - Input Layers Related to Topography, Channel Geometry, Land Cover and Soil Characteristics of European and African River Basins

The data set was created for the purpose of updating/processing static input layers for LISFLOOD model. The LISFLOOD model is a hydrological rainfall-runoff model that is capable of simulating the hydrological processes that occur in a catchment. The new data set contains gridded numerical and descriptive information related to topography, channel geometry, land cover and soil characteristics of European and African river basins. This document gives a brief summary of the source geo-spatial data sets, the applied methodology and the main characteristics of the resulted data.JRC.DDG.H.7-Land management and natural hazard

Metadata - Geospatial data layers provided for the Global Atlas of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)

Metadata - Geospatial data layers provided for the Global Atlas of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)JRC.F.7-Renewable Energ

Sustainable Energy Portfolios for Small Island States

The study presents a cost effective electricity generation portfolio for six island states for a 20-year period (2015-2035). The underlying concept investigates whether adding sizeable power capacities of renewable energy sources (RES) options could decrease the overall costs and contribute to a more sustainable, indigenous electricity generation at the same time. Often, island states rely on fossil fuels which apart from dependence on foreign resources also includes an additional, significant transport cost. This is an extra motive to study the extent in which island states represent primary locations for RES technologies. For the aims of the present study an optimization model has been developed and following numerous runs the obtained results show that installing PV and battery capacities can delay-reduce the huge investments in fossil options in early periods. Thus, investment on RES can have a positive, long-term effect on the overall energy mix. This prompt development can happen without adding new subsidies but there is a need to address the existing socio-economic barriers with intelligent design of financing and economic instruments and capacity building as discussed in the conclusions.JRC.F.7-Renewables and Energy Efficienc

Towards an Assessment of Coastal Flood Damage Potential in Europe

This study makes a first step for the assessment of exposure to coastal flooding due to storm surge in Europe. The objective of this report is to assess the available data for a further detailed assessment of potential economic damage from coastal flooding. Many seamless European datasets are necessary for the implementation of a comprehensive assessment. We describe the conceptual modelling approach for calculating flood damage potential. Within this approach each component of the system represents a specific dataset. The first step of this project, as included in this report, is the identification and acquisition of the datasets for the implementation of the proposed assessment in future phases. As example of the collected data a series of maps for selected European areas are provided. In the maps we assume a coastal flood resulting from a surge of 2 meter above mean sea level. The flooding area was mapped assuming no defences. This report is a non exhaustive assessment and only a limited number of cases have been selected. Seven critical areas across Europe are included i.e. Amsterdam, Hamburg, Copenhagen, London, Porto, Norwich and Riga. In further steps of this project all the European coastal areas will be assessed.JRC.H.7-Land management and natural hazard

Water-Energy-Food nexus interactions assessment: Renewable energy sources to support water access and quality in West Africa

The present Technical Report examines the potential synergies between energy, water and agricultural production in Africa. It aims to highlight strategies that address important challenges in an integrated manner. In this regard, the deployment of clean energy sources through the utilization of indigenous African renewable sources aims to provide the required energy to extract, process and convey water resources that will eventually support agricultural activities and food production.JRC.C.2-Energy Efficiency and Renewable

Soils of the European Union

This report make a detailed summary of the soil resources of the EU. Contents: Acknowledgements 2 1. Introduction 3 2. Materials and methods 4 2.1 Soil Geographical Database of Eurasia at scale 1:1,000,000 (SGDBE) 4 2.2 Nomenclature of soil types 6 2.3 Map legend and representation 6 3. Soils of the European Union: an overview 8 4. Spatial distribution of the major soils in the European Union 11 4.1 Acrisols 11 4.2 Albeluvisols 13 4.3 Andosols 15 4.4 Anthrosols 17 4.5 Arenosols 19 4.6 Calcisols 21 4.7 Cambisols 23 4.8 Chernozems 25 4.9 Fluvisols 27 4.10 Gleysols 29 4.11 Gypsisols 31 4.12 Histosols 33 4.13 Kastanozems 35 4.14 Leptosols 37 4.15 Luvisols 39 4.16 Phaeozems 41 4.17 Planosol 43 4.18 Podzols 45 4.19 Regosols 47 4.20 Solonchaks 49 4.21 Solonetz 51 4.22 Umbrisols 53 4.23 Vertisols 55 5. Concluding remarks 57 References 58 Appendix 1. 59 Appendix 2. 62JRC.H.7-Land management and natural hazard

Mitigating Climate Change: Renewables in the EU: Cutting greenhouse gas emissions through renewables: Volume 2

The energy sector accounts for the lion’s share (55 %) of greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union (EU). While EU emissions had fallen by 22.1 % in 2015 compared with 1990, and continue to fall, the bloc’s economy grew by 27 % over that period. Since the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) entered into force, use of renewables has continued to grow in the 3 EU sectors that consume most energy (electricity, heating/ cooling and transport). This has done much to cut emissions. While the renewable share in gross final energy consumption rose from 12.4 % in 2009 to almost 17 % in 2015, EU emissions fell year-on-year by an annual average of 8.5 %. Fossil fuels are increasingly being displaced by renewables. The displacement between 1990 and 2015 amounted to 139 Mtoe equal to 11.5 % of the gross inland consumption of fossil fuels. The electricity sector accounted for almost 40 % of this displacement, with rapidly growing new technologies such as wind and photovoltaics accounting for almost 18 % of total fossil fuel displacement. Without renewable energy sources, total emissions in the EU would have been 8.7 % higher in 2009, 13.8 % higher in 2014 and 14.4 % higher in 2015. This report represents an integrated analysis and provides: (i) a concise overview of carbon dioxide (CO2 ) and aggregated emissions (in both the ETS and the ESD sectors), including recent trends in the EU as a whole, and in individual EU countries; (ii) an assessment of the role played by renewables in mitigating climate change in the EU and individual countries between 2009 and 2014; and (iii) a proxy estimate of emissions savings through the use of renewables in 2015.JRC.C.2-Energy Efficiency and Renewable

Renewable energy deployment in the European Union: Renewable energy in the European Union further to Renewable Energy Directive reporting, Vol. 3

This report presents an overview of renewable energy development and progress expected by 2020, as forecasted in the EU Member States’ reporting under the Renewable Energy Directive and projected in the EU Reference 2016 and EUCO27 scenarios. The report compares the progress achieved between 2005 and 2015, as reported by EU Member States in their progress reports and the Eurostat SHARES Tool, with the expected results as set out in their national renewable energy action plans. The report goes on to describe in detail each Member State’s overall contribution to the development of renewable energy since 2005. The findings draw on the Member States’ reporting under the Renewable Energy Directive, the progress each country has made in the use of each renewable energy source and the contribution of renewable energy in each Member State to the heating/cooling, electricity and transport sectors. Findings are summarised in standardised tables and graphs, enabling quick comparison between different countries and for the EU as a whole.JRC.C.2-Energy Efficiency and Renewable

Mapping the least-cost option for rural electrification in Burkina Faso: Scaling-up renewable energies

This report describes the current status and limitations of the power sector in Burkina Faso and develops a new methodology that through spatial analysis processes aims to provide a possible pathway for universal electricity access through a sustainable energy mix. Two percent of the rural population in Burkina Faso has access to electricity and supply is lacking at many social structures such as schools and hospitals. Energy access achievements in Burkina Faso are still very modest. The rural electrification strategy for Burkina Faso is scattered in several electricity sector development policies: there is a need of defining a concrete action plan. Planning and coordination between grid extension and off-grid electrification programmes is essential to reach a long-term sustainable energy model and to avoid high unnecessary infrastructure investments. This report describes the development and the results obtained with a dynamic planning tool to support national government and development partners in defining an alternative electrification plan. Currently, the common national policy for electrification is dominated almost exclusively by grid extension with the government subsidising fossil fuel electricity production. However, the results of our analysis suggest that an electrification plan mainly based on further grid extension becomes inefficient and unsustainable in order to reach the national energy access targets. Our results also suggest that Burkina Faso’s rural electrification strategy should be driven by distributed minigrids powered by local renewable resources. We find that this approach would connect more people to power more quickly, and would reduce imported fossil fuel dependence/consumption that would otherwise be necessary for grid extension options.JRC.C.2-Energy Efficiency and Renewable

Urban NO2 Atlas

The Atlas shows, for selected cities, the likely effects of the implementation of “Traffic Policies” intended to reduce urban NO2 concentrations. As NO2 pollution in urban areas is mainly caused by traffic, the analysis focuses on assessing the relative contribution to the NO2 concentration in ambient air from different types of vehicles. The results, obtained for a selected number of cities in Europe show that, depending on the size of the selected “Inner Area” (by this name, we mean the area over which traffic measures are applied), one could reduce on average up to 40% the NO2 urban background concentrations. Of this average reduction, roughly 15% is linked to passenger diesel cars, 13% to trucks and 6% to vans (mostly diesel); while the remaining share is associated to other type of vehicles (buses, gasoline cars, etc…). This Atlas provides a first indication of the relative effectiveness of mobility policies aimed at reducing urban NO2 pollution concentrations in European cities. However, considering the specific assumptions in the applied approach, as on traffic flows, fleet composition, emission factors, size of the “Inner Area”, etc…, the results may not be as accurate as they would be when using detailed local data. The SHERPA-City methodology and tool applied in this Atlas can be used by local authorities to assess a broad range of air quality measures, including technological (e.g. fleet renewal, new technologies) and soft measures (i.e. promotion of walking and cycling). Such measures can be assessed alone or in combination.JRC.C.5-Air and Climat