Toward Net 0: Digital CO2 Proofs for the Sustainable Transformation of the European Economy

As the decarbonization of industry has become an increasing priority, so has the need for emissions data and the requirement for cross-sector emissions reporting. What challenges and opportunities does industry face? How can digital solutions help leverage the potential of climate-friendly products in emerging climate-neutral lead markets? Based on interviews with experts from various industries, our study with Fraunhofer-FIT "Towards net 0: Digital CO2 proofs for the sustainable transformation of the European economy" presents hurdles and digital solutions as well as conclusions for policy makers. The study comes to the conclusion that granular, secure CO2 proofs on the one hand offer a possibility to manage the increasing effort for the collection, processing and provision of CO2 information more efficiently and at the same time can accelerate and simplify the transition to climate-neutral production processes and products

Accelerating sustainability in companies: A taxonomy of information systems for corporate carbon risk management

For increasing sustainability and mitigating climate change, corporate carbon risk management (CCRM) can be a key enabler. As we outline in this paper, companies currently lack processes and approaches in practice to actively manage complex risks caused by carbon emissions in the form of a comprehensive CCRM. To address this issue and to bridge the gap of lacking digital solutions for CCRM, we develop a taxonomy that illustrates characteristics of information system solutions that foster CCRM. While our taxonomy builds on a systematic literature review, we evaluate our results with eleven semi-structured expert interviews. We conclude that CCRM is a complex field in which information systems can provide significant support at many stages. Thereby, our taxonomy also contributes to Green IS research and may act as guidance for practitioners. Moreover, we discuss how digital technologies like Blockchains and Artificial Intelligence can pave the way towards a target-oriented CCRM in companies

Digital Decarbonization: Design Principles for an Enterprise-wide Emissions Data Architecture

The need for corporate decarbonization to mitigate climate change is reflected in a growing number of political measures to transparently disclose the environmental impact of corporate activities. Due to increasing reporting obligations, companies must constantly evaluate their own as well as suppliers' products and processes with respect to emissions data. To date, guidelines on how to design a data architecture focusing on the collection, storage, transformation, distribution, and disclosure of emissions data throughout an entire company are still lacking. Working with the design science research paradigm, we develop seven design principles for an enterprise-wide emissions data architecture (EEDA). We develop and iterate these principles by performing a structured literature review and semi-structured interviews. Taking this emission-centric perspective on data architecture, we foster the active engagement for a structured enterprise-wide approach for managing emissions data and coping with the increased demand for emissions reporting

Artificial Intelligence in Energy Demand Response: A Taxonomy of Input Data Requirements

The ongoing energy transition increases the share of renewable energy sources. To combat inherent intermittency of RES, increasing system flexibility forms a major opportunity. One way to provide flexibility is demand response (DR). Research already reflects several approaches of artificial intelligence (AI) for DR. However, these approaches often lack considerations concerning their applicability, i.e., necessary input data. To help putting these algorithms into practice, the objective of this paper is to analyze, how input data requirements of AI approaches in the field of DR can be systematized from a practice-oriented information systems perspective. Therefore, we develop a taxonomy consisting of eight dimensions encompassing 30 characteristics. Our taxonomy contributes to research by illustrating how future AI approaches in the field of DR should represent their input data requirements. For practitioners, our developed taxonomy adds value as a structuring tool, e.g., to verify applicability with respect to input data requirements

Industrial demand-side flexibility:A key element of a just energy transition and industrial development

In many countries, industry is one of the largest consumers of electricity. Given the special importance of electricity for industry, a reliable electricity supply is a basic prerequisite for further industrial development and associated economic growth. As countries worldwide transition to a low-carbon economy (in particular, by the development of renewable energy sources), the increasing fluctuation in renewable energy production requires new flexibility options within the electricity system in order to guarantee security of supply. It is advanced in this paper that such a flexibility transition with an active participation of industry in general has unique potential: It will not only promote green industrial development, but also become an engine for inclusive industrial development and growth as well as delivering a just transition to a low-carbon economy. Given the high potential of industrial demand-side flexibility, a first monitoring approach for such a flexibility transition is illustrated, which bases on a flexibility index. Our flexibility index allows for an indication of mis-developments and supports an appropriate implementation of countermeasures together with relevant stakeholders. Hence, it holds various insights for both policy-makers and practice with respect to how industrial demand-side flexibility can ensure advances towards an inclusive, just, and sustainable industrial development

Digital Decarbonization: Design Principles for an Enterprise-wide Emissions Data Architecture

The need for corporate decarbonization to mitigate climate change is reflected in a growing number of political measures to transparently disclose the environmental impact of corporate activities. Due to increasing reporting obligations, companies must constantly evaluate their own as well as suppliers\u27 products and processes with respect to emissions data. To date, guidelines on how to design a data architecture focusing on the collection, storage, transformation, distribution, and disclosure of emissions data throughout an entire company are still lacking. Working with the design science research paradigm, we develop seven design principles for an enterprise-wide emissions data architecture (EEDA). We develop and iterate these principles by performing a structured literature review and semi-structured interviews. Taking this emission-centric perspective on data architecture, we foster the active engagement for a structured enterprise-wide approach for managing emissions data and coping with the increased demand for emissions reporting

The role of flexibility in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond:Contributing to a sustainable and resilient energy future in Europe

The energy sector provides fuel for much of everyday life, particularly economically and socially. Fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic, a well-functioning and resilient energy sector is vital for maintaining the operation of critical infrastructures, including, most importantly, the health sector, and timely economic recovery. Notwithstanding its importance in everyday life and crises, the energy sector itself is currently in a complex and far-reaching transformation to combat climate change whilst supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy and society, mainly through the development of variable renewable energy sources (RES) such as wind and solar photovoltaics. This paper highlights the need for energy resilience as countries face the triple challenge of the COVID-19 health crisis, the consequent economic crisis, and the climate crisis. Focusing on Europe, it is advanced here that with the ability to balance fluctuating electricity generation and demand, flexibility allows the energy sector to utilise low-carbon RES reliably, ensuring a more resilient and sustainable energy future. This paper derives five urgent policy recommendations for Europe that address possible impacts of COVID-19 on the economic and societal prerequisites for flexibility in energy systems

Decarbonisation through digitalisation : Proposals for Transforming the Energy Sector

The successful and rapid achievement of sustainability and climate protection goals is becoming an ever-greater focus of political, economic, and societal action. Against this background, the energy industry contributes and will further contribute to decarbonisation in Germany and throughout Europe. Indeed, it already provides a significant contribution to the Paris Agreement and European Green Deal. In this light, the next transformation phase to a sustainable energy system is inevitably linked to the modernisation and especially to the digitalisation of the energy industry. The aim of this thesis paper is to intensify the discussion on the digitalisation of the energy industry and, in particular, to outline recommendations for flexible and proactive action by all stakeholders. The University of Bayreuth, the Fraunhofer FIT Project Group Business & Information Systems Engineering and the European transmission system operator TenneT are united by the vision of climate-neutral economic growth based on the innovative strength of the European economy. In 2021, decarbonisation is already shaping the digitalisation of the energy industry. Following on from the steps initiated in recent years to move the energy industry towards greater sustainability in the course of the energy transition, the main concern now is to accelerate sustainable growth while continuing to keep the energy supply secure and economical. A crucial building block in this development is the electrification of additional sectors. Accordingly, we discuss the role of grid expansion with respect to sector coupling and emphasise the digitalisation of end-to-end energy industry processes. In this context, we see decentralised digital identities as a promising way of bridging the current digital gap and addressing the need for digital certificates for thorough decarbonisation. In view of the urgency of climate policy action, we recommend an appropriate innovation policy to enable promising solutions to be tested in an agile way and findings to be drawn rapidly. Finally, we offer an overview of the monitoring of carbon emissions in grid expansion projects. This paper is aimed at political decision-makers, energy industry stakeholders, and all citizens interested in energy policy