Proposal for a sustainability framework for energy technologies

The European Green Deal is a flagship initiative of the European Commission aimed at achieving a sustainable future through a clean energy transition. This report proposes a sustainability assessment framework (SAF) for evaluating energy technologies, inspired by the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework. It supports the Clean Energy Technology Observatory (CETO) in monitoring research and innovation activities for clean energy technologies. The background concepts underlying the SAF are discussed, including sustainability principles, life cycle assessment, sustainable innovation, and energy-specific concepts. The proposed SAF includes three dimensions: supply security, environmental sustainability, and social sustainability. Energy security encompasses economic aspects, such as stable energy supply, accessibility of resources, and trade considerations. Environmental sustainability is based on the Product Environmental Footprint methodology and aligned with the SSbD framework. The social sustainability dimension considers impacts on workers, local communities, value chain actors and society, according to the Social Life Cycle Assessment methodology. The framework has a hierarchical structure placing energy security first, and recognizing its interconnections with environmental and social objectives. The framework supports the European Union's priority on energy security in the context of achieving clean energy transition and becoming the first climate-neutral continent by 2050.