The ultimate objective of the NEEDS Integrated Project is to evaluate the full costs and benefits (i.e. direct + external) of energy policies and of future energy systems, both at the level of individual countries and for the enlarged EU as a whole.

In this context NEEDS refines and develops the externalities methodology already set up in the ExternE project, through an ambitious attempt to develop, implement and test an original framework of analysis to assess the long term sustainability of energy technology options and policies.

To this end NEEDS is built as series of Research Streams, each addressing a specific area of research.
NEEDS is supported by the Directorate General for Research of the European Commission in the context of the 6th Framework Programme.