Socioeconomics of Energy

Presentation

A multidisciplinary research team focused on advancing research and knowledge in the energy sector and sustainability topics from a socioeconomic perspective. Specifically, it studies the social, environmental, and economic viability of innovative and integrated solutions that will enable sustainable energy development.

Given its multidisciplinary nature, its members are part of three research groups recognized by the Government of Aragon (Spain):

S42_23R: CREVALOR – Creación de valor en las organizaciones

S33_23R: Socioeconomía y Sostenibilidad

T46_23R: Energía y CO2

Research lines

Socioeconomic analysis of energy/environmental technologies

This research line focuses on evaluating the economic and social implications of adopting new energy and environmental technologies. It examines the costs, benefits, and social effects of these new technologies, as well as their impact on sustainable development and the economic competitiveness of the regions.

Geopolitics of energy and sustainability

This research line analyses how geopolitical dynamics influence energy policies and sustainability globally. It studies the interrelationship between energy security, the dependence on natural resources, and the national and international strategies to tackle climate change and promote a sustainable energy transition.

Sectoral characterization and proposal of multisectoral indicators

This research line develops methodologies to characterize various economic sectors’ energy use and resource efficiency. It proposes multisectoral indicators that enable the evaluation and comparison of different industries' energy and environmental performance, facilitating the implementation of sustainability policies.

Study of Consumer Behavior

This research line investigates the different factors that influence consumer decisions regarding the use of energy and sustainable products. It analyzes consumption patterns, perceptions, and attitudes toward energy efficiency and renewable technologies to design effective strategies to promote more sustainable behaviors and reduce social inequalities and their effects on energy consumption.

Projects developed in the last 5 years

• Transition to oxy-combustion of biomass with emissions capture and storage. Funded by: National Research Agency. FEDER funds.
• Ecological transition in rural areas (ENSURE) TED2021-131397B-I00 …01/12/2022-31/05/2025. Funded by: National research agency, European Union. Main Researchers: Javier Uche and Julio Melero.
• Towards sustainable mineral and metal industry: ZERO Red mud and ZERO CO2 from Alumina, Silica, and precipitated Calcium carbonate co-production by the Aranda-Mastin technology.  Funded by: European Union.
• Activities for designing methodology, calculating the circularity of the food chain, energy and emissions auditing, linking and accounting for aggregated CO2 equivalent emissions for the carbon footprint of a product, and implementing and transferring an integrated circular economy index in the livestock and agricultural sectors. Funded by: Oviaragon, S.C.L..
• Analysis of greenwashing and brownwashing as environmental communication strategies in business and their effects on decision-making. Funded by: Ibercaja Banking Foundation
• Companies and individuals in the transition to a circular economy: Analysis of business strategies in circular economy and the environmental behavior of facilitating agents Funded by: Government of Aragón
• Analysis of the impact on business performance of investments made to achieve the SDGs Funded by: Ibercaja Banking Foundation
• Mapping, analysis, and proposals for circularity in the value chains of electronics and ICT, and batteries and vehicles in Aragón. Funded by: Government of Aragón
• Ecological transition in rural areas. Funded by: National Research Agency
• Towards convergence between sustainability and digitalization in the business, economic, and social sectors. Funded by: National Research Agency
• Decarbonization of energy-intensive sectors. CO2 capture in gas engines for the circularization of sustainable fuels and viable emissions storage. Funded by: National Research Agency, European Union
• Decarbonization of the steel industry through the use of green hydrogen and CO2 recirculation. Funded by: National Research Agency
• Development of a study on the digitalization of companies in Aragón and its effects on working conditions. Funded by: Economic and Social Council of Aragón

Technological Offer/Services

• Analysis of energy poverty and vulnerable consumers.
• Analysis and calculation of the social and economic impact of renewable energies
• Analysis of the resource use and its impact on the territory.
• Analysis of the feasibility, economic, and organizational impact of investments in the energy/environmental sector.
• Analysis of life cycle costs (LCC).
• Characterization and measurement through multisectoral indicators.
• Application of methodologies for the calculation of social and environmental externalities.
• Proposal of organizational mechanisms for collaborative renewable energy consumption environments.
• Design and implementation of measurement systems for energy indicators.
• Evaluation of energy aspects in research & development projects in environmental and energy fields.
• Design and application of socioeconomic impact analysis methodologies.
• Promotion actions targeted at end users in international and cooperation projects.
• Design of calculation tools and impact analysis for urban mobility.
• Socioeconomic studies on the implementation of electric mobility and its supply networks.
• Socioeconomic impact analysis associated with different integrated mobility strategies.
• Social and economic impact of eco-efficiency and energy efficiency.
• Development of analysis tools for eco-innovation measures.
• Design and analysis of macro-indicators and meso-indicators for eco-innovation.
• Sector characterization for environmental and socio-economic impact analysis.