ECRAN holds final LEAP workshop

Human Dynamic's ECRAN project held the final workshop in the LEAP programme, training specialists in environmental modelling.
09.05.2016

Human Dynamics' ECRAN project team held a multi-beneficiary workshop on modelling: Module 4 was held on 20-22 April 2016 in Tirana, Albania, and it is the fourth and last in the line of training for Long-range Energy Alternative Planning (LEAP) modelling that was started in November 2014. Human Dynamics is leading a consortium of specialists to assist the European Commission in providing Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Regional Accession Network (ECRAN).

This workshop was the final module of the training. It wrapped up the Module 3 homework and then connected the theoretical modelling practices with recent policy developments where modelling was important.  Our team made a particular effort to connect INDCs and high ambition decarbonisation scenarios, which will be of practical application and use to the beneficiaries. 

Forty participants from all seven ECRAN Beneficiary countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, FYR of Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo*, Serbia and Turkey) attended the training. Participants were public officials working in the Ministries (of environment and energy, Public universities, general directorates and hydro-meteorological services) dealing with energy planning and greenhouse gas emissions.

The objective of the training programme was to increase technical capacities in the countries to allow them to carry out modelling of emission scenarios. The modelling aided scenario work will benefit countries by helping them meet their future EU and UNFCCC reporting requirements, and to form a rational position on national efforts contributing to the EU 2050 roadmap and the 2030 Framework, and may assist them by promoting evidence-based planning in energy policy, including in the development of an energy strategy, energy efficiency action plan and a renewable energy action plan.

Participants who attended the line of modelling workshops received certificated for successful completion.  In total 28 participants were received a certificate since they had attended at least 3 out of 4 of the total workshops. Since five were not present in Tirana, only 23 received a full attendance certificate. The remaining participants that attended one to two trainings in line received a certificate of partial completion.

The training were organised together with Mr Charlie Heaps from the Stockholm Environmental Institute and one of the developers of LEAP software. Out of the seven ECAN beneficiary countries, six are already using LEAP software, and since public officials lack knowledge, the training was designed to help those officials gain expertise in the software. This software will help prepare national and regional energy balances and also meet UNFCCC reporting requirements.