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project
A sustainable electricity market
Strong growth is taking place in the production of renewable energy. Changes made now to the electricity market can ensure that the transition to a sustainable energy society continues in a responsible manner.
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project
Responsible decision-making on gas
Which institutional and administrative changes are necessary in the gas industry to achieve a responsible energy system? Which factors determine the level of public support for solutions in the gas industry that contribute to a sustainable energy transition?
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project
Public acceptability of shale gas
Shale gas extraction is controversial because its supporters and opponents disagree when it comes to standards and design criteria. More attention should be paid to this in discourse and policy.
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project
Wind Energy on the North Sea
Responsible innovation in offshore wind energy requires taking moral values into account in the design phase. As a first step towards such ‘value sensitive design’ this short project developed a theoretical framework to identify relevant moral values and possible value conflicts. This framework invites reflection on both technological and institutional design. It distinguishes between three perspectives on acceptability. Previous problems with the acceptance of wind parks made industrial partners eager to join the project.
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project
Biofuels: an irresponsible innovation?
Biofuels were once introduced as a sustainable energy source, but became heavily criticised for their negative effects on the global poor and their food security.
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project
Empowering local energy projects
This project will deliver a ‘governance roadmap’ towards various types of community-based local sustainable energy systems, plus insight in stakeholder positions, opportunities and limitations.
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project
Acceptable design for heating systems
Because of the many issues surrounding natural gas, which is currently used to heat buildings, new heating systems will have to be designed to sustainably heat buildings in the future. This project will establish guidelines for the design of socially responsible, sustainable heating systems that can count on broad public support.
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project
Participatory Value Evaluation of energy policies
How can we include citizens’ ethical considerations in real-world economic policy analysis of sustainable energy policies? This project develops a new assessment tool that aims to do exactly this.
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project
Acceptable smart grids
New technologies like wind mills and e-vehicles require turning our electricity networks into ‘smart grids’. Examples of values relevant for a successful and responsible transition to smart grids are privacy and reliability.
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project
Responsible assessment of energy projects
Responsible innovation requires pro-actively assessing and carefully evaluating all relevant values. Controversies arise from value conflicts between stakeholders. This project develops a method to link formal assessment tools - such as cost-benefit analysis - to informal assessment as found in societal debates. In this way all relevant values can be taken into account.
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project
Smart urban energy systems
This research is aimed at socio-technical designs and business models that facilitate the development of smart urban energy systems, for example in the city of Amsterdam.
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project
Humanitarian logistics for refugee work
New digital technologies provide social and economic opportunities for the logistics of accommodating refugees. The researchers are developing an expert system to optimise the logistics process in a socially responsible manner, taking into account the ethical and social aspects and the interests of all stakeholders.
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project
Big Data: balancing interests
Individual, public and commercial interests with respect to 'Big Data' sometimes conflict. How to strike a balance? This project develops a regulatory and institutional framework.
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project
Mobile systems for behavioural change
The rapid development of smartphone technology creates great opportunities for supporting a healthier lifestyle. This project develops ways through which users can trust health support systems and are willing to use them without this affecting their intrinsic motivation to lead a healthy lifestyle.
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project
Smart grids in India
Successfully developing and implementing smart grids in rural India requires paying careful attention to socio-ethical factors.
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project
Responsible techno-entrepreneurs
New Technology Based Firms (NTBFs) may help to address climate change. This project investigates opportunities and threats for NTBFs and develops a tool to identify relevant socio-ethical factors.
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project
Governing crowd-based initiatives
Citizens are organising themselves to take over tasks from government and industry in an increasing number of sectors. Crowd-based initiatives must be organised properly for these innovations to be socially responsible.
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project
The role of values and moral emotions
People often respond emotionally to proposed sustainable innovations, for example when resisting the siting of windmills. This project develops an approach to take such emotions constructively into account in order to develop responsible innovations.
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project
Traveling facts and uncertainties
Flames spewing from the kitchen tap, injection needles in our food. Some of the images traveling across the internet and social media can be frightening. We have to take them seriously and develop creative and informative new images together with supporters and opponents.
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project
Using less energy at home
‘Persuasive technology’ in people’s home might lead to reducing energy consumption. Essential for success is the integration of sound technology, effective persuasive principles and attention to ethical values.
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project
Partnerships for a bio-based economy
For such a sweeping transition as a bio-based economy to be realised, connections need to be established and partnerships created. In this project, recommendations are made to help achieve this.
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project
Working together towards a bio-based economy
If we are to achieve a bio-based economy, various parties in the food production chain need to work together on innovation. This project describes what needs to be done to achieve this.