The Code POLIDEMACO (POLIcy DEcision MAking COde) for strategic choices based on circulation of benefits: the case of hydrogen market penetration in the city of Rome

The Code POLIDEMACO represents the computer-aided form of the evaluation methodology termed as Four-Sector Diagram of Benefits, which is essentially based on: i) the most recent developments of Thermodynamics, in particular those concerning the so-called “Maximum Em-Power Principle” (Odum, 1996) and its mathematical formulation (Giannantoni, 2001); ii) the related consequences on Economics (a new concept of Externality); iii) the possibility of adopting evaluation parameters even extremely heterogeneous from each other (exactly because deriving from different theoretical approaches and indipendent scientific disciplines); iv) the proper consideration of the four main “Subjects” (or Sectors) which are usually involved in the global productive process: Firm, Society, the Environment as a Source and the Environment as a Sink; and finally, v) a Decision-Making Process founded more on the estimated external Benefits to be “remunerated” than on possible damages to be internalized. The entire approach is based on a unifying innovative concept of Quality (thus indicated by a capital Q), which emerges from a careful insight into Maximum Em-Power Principle presuppositions, features and consequences. This is already generating a profound revision not only in Classical Thermodynamics but also in several related disciplines, and in Economics as well. In particular, the traditional concept of Externality (generally considered as a synonym of damages, because external Benefits always remain uncompensated for) can be now reinterpreted as an “excess” in terms of Quality, and thus never ever reducible to the sole action of one subject or the other of the transaction, or to their “sum”. In fact, any generated “excess” of Quality, which emerges from the relationship, is an “extra benefit” which goes far beyond the “generator” and “generating” subjects and contributes to the generation of a higher level of “organization” in the whole system. As a case study, the city of Rome is analyzed with reference to the possibility of replacing traditional fuels with Hydrogen, in selected energy supply sectors (namely, transportation and static generation of both electricity and heat for domestic or small firms use). The strategic positioning of selected Hydrogen technologies is evaluated not only with respect to other alternative technologies, but also (and especially) on the basis of the fact that induced Benefits are much higher than Investments required.