Energy system modelling and integrated assessment approaches are essential tools for understanding and optimising the complex interactions within modern energy systems. By simulating these interactions, stakeholders can make informed decisions that improve energy security, support economic viability, social prosperity, and minimise environmental impact.

This session will explore the role of energy system modelling and integrated assessment in advancing sustainable energy transitions, with a particular focus on the impacts of system retrofitting and integrating renewable sources such as solar, hydrogen, wind, hydroelectric power, and geothermal energy.

We will examine renewable energy, small-scale RETs, and hydrogen's growing importance in achieving net-zero emissions, exploring its potential in energy storage, transportation, and industrial applications, and advanced grid management systems. In addition, the session will address the social and environmental effects, trade-offs, and co-benefits of renewable energy systems, particularly their impact on communities, job creation, land use and related ecological consequences.

Thereby, looking at strategies for sustainable planning and management that enhance the environmental and social co-benefits of the renewable energy transition, such as improving community resilience and job creation, as well as ecosystem service enhancement and the mitigation of land use conflicts.

This session aims to bring together researchers from diverse fields to discuss how these models and tools can improve decision-making, enable informed policy development, promote interdisciplinary collaboration, and advance broader sustainability goals.