ExternE

ExternE, short for "External Costs of Energy," represents a pioneering initiative in evaluating the environmental impacts of energy production, beginning in the early 1990s. Developed by the Institute of Energy Economics and Rational Energy Use at the University of Stuttgart, this project aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of the external costs associated with various energy sources, including coal, oil, gas, and renewables. Central to ExternE’s methodology is the Impact Pathway Approach, which quantifies the environmental costs by tracing emissions through their impacts on air, soil, and water, culminating in monetary evaluation.

ExternE facilitates informed decision-making in energy policy and technology selection by transforming diverse environmental impacts into a single monetary unit, promoting transparency and comparability. With a focus on integrating economic assessment into energy planning, ExternE has contributed significantly to several projects, enhancing awareness about environmental and social costs related to energy. Its innovative tools, such as the EcoSense model, remain crucial for understanding and mitigating the consequences of energy production on society and the environment.