Social KPIs are typically non-monetary appraisals of the impact of a project. Social impact analysis is therefore part of a qualitative analysis. Social impacts are typically difficult to quantify, but should be considered, especially since WiseGRID has a strong environmental and social focus. In general, implementing Smart Grids benefit society as a whole, which implies positive social impacts on its citizens, although they may not perceive the benefits as directly applicable to themselves. However, negative social impacts can be also be identified. Since citizen concerns are not taken lightly in the deployment of smart technologies as part of a democratic process, it is imperative that citizens clearly and fully understand the impacts of Smart Grids, otherwise progress to full maturation may be slowed down.
In terms of figures, regarding the project partners, 80% of the pilot participant organisations have in-creased their personnel in more than two employees partially thanks to the new business models oppor-tunities that the WiseGRID tools enable in the premises of local energy cooperatives and DSOs. In all pilot partner organizations 100% of utility workers, field technicians and local grid operators were trained in the management and operation of smart meters, distributed energy resources, energy storage and elec-tric vehicles, as well as training for the use of the WiseGRID tools, directly related with the previous assets and resources.
In terms of domestic end-users, in Flanders, Terni and Crevillent, respectively 47, 50 and 50% of the end users of the WiseHOME App are women, achieving a clear parity in these pilots. Reflected in the satisfac-tion rates of the project second round of citizen engagement workshops, in all pilots in which this round took place, 87% or more participants have indicated to be very satisfied with the project, agreeing/having availability to participate in the citizen engagement workshops at least, 45% of the citizens reached in Flanders, up to 100% of the contacted individuals in Terni.
All the main tools and ICT services developed within WiseGRID have been validated in the pilot site of Flanders (Belgium), Crevillent (Spain), Terni (Italy), Mesogia (Greece) and Kythnos (Greece). The evalua-tion is based on a set of technical KPIs calculated per pilot site, where the corresponding KPIs are applica-ble. Overall, WiseGRID products have met their goals, achieving the measures of succeed initially fore-casted for eack KPI.