Energy Transition Readiness Tool

Project name: Energy Transition Readiness Tool
Project Lead: Dr. Anna Sabidussi
Partner:
 • Jack Wasser – Project Developer Energy Transition Built Environment, Brabantse Ontwikkelings Maatschappij (BOM)
Start date: 2024
Status: Ongoing
Project duration: 2024–2026

The Energy Transition Readiness Tool helps organisations understand how far they are in their energy-transition journey.
By assessing technological, behavioural and structural indicators, the tool highlights strengths and identifies targeted areas for improvement.
It supports strategic decision-making, organisational alignment and long-term sustainability planning.

The transition to sustainable energy systems requires more than technological solutions.
Organisations must also develop the behavioural, cultural and structural capacity to adapt. Many lack insight into their current readiness level or how to prioritise actions.
The tool originated from research conducted by Dr. Anna Sabidussi and Jack Wasser (BOM). Their academic paper established the foundations for a practical assessment method, which is now being further developed in co-creation with businesses.

This project focuses on understanding how prepared organisations are for the energy transition. It examines organisational readiness while identifying key behavioural, technological, and structural barriers that may slow progress. By translating these insights into practical guidance, the project supports organisations in setting realistic priorities and defining clear next steps. At the same time, it enables benchmarking across organisations and sectors, creating a broader perspective on transition progress. The findings also provide actionable insights for policymakers and regional stakeholders, supporting informed decision-making and targeted interventions.

The tool is built on a readiness model that combines two core dimensions: agility and capacity. Agility reflects how quickly an organisation can adapt, innovate, and implement change, while capacity refers to the resources, structures, and capabilities that enable transformation. By assessing these dimensions together, the tool positions organisations within four readiness profiles. Some organisations are transformative, acting as sector leaders that drive innovation and systemic change. Others are adaptive, with strong capacity but a slower pace of implementation. Pro-active organisations show a high willingness to innovate but are constrained by limited capacity, while reactive organisations tend to adopt innovations only once they become mainstream or become regulatory requirements.

The development of the tool follows a structured and iterative process. It begins with the creation of a robust assessment framework, followed by a dashboard-supported survey that translates insights into actionable outputs. Pilot applications with organisations allow for practical testing, while continuous feedback cycles ensure refinement and improvement. The tool is ultimately validated at both organisational and departmental levels, ensuring reliability, relevance, and usability in practice.

The project is developed by CIBR in close partnership with BOM (Brabantse Ontwikkelings Maatschappij).
 Additional partners and companies will join the pilot and testing phases.

The Energy Transition Readiness Tool will deliver:

A validated assessment tool for organisations navigating the energy transition.
Data-driven insights for strategic, operational and policy decisions.
Improved understanding of organisational barriers and opportunities.
Capacity-building for professionals working in sustainability and change management
The tool can also support policymakers by identifying areas requiring intervention.

To date, the project has reached several important milestones. A preliminary presentation has already been delivered during a lunch meeting, creating initial awareness and discussion. In addition, the survey design has been completed and is ready for pilot testing.

The next phase focuses on practical application and further development. Pilot studies will be conducted with selected organisations, followed by an event where companies can actively test the tool and receive their own readiness assessment. At the same time, an adapted version of the tool will be developed to assess HAN’s internal readiness for the energy transition. Throughout this process, communication will continue through publications, podcasts, and social media, ensuring ongoing engagement and knowledge sharing.

Students from the Minor Data-Driven Decision Making in Business contributed to early stages of the project by developing a prototype dashboard using simulated data, helping shape the tool’s visual concepts.
Future student involvement will focus on analysis, validation and case studies emerging from the pilot phase.

For more information:
researchcenter.isb@han.nl