Are EU policy objectives for climate change, energy security and innovation compatible?

EU energy policies have a threefold objective. Climate change needs to be mitigated, security of energy supply must be ensured, and the competitiveness of the EU economy needs to be promoted as much as possible. To a large extent these policy goals correspond, but they may be at odds sometimes. For instance, large shares of natural gas in primary energy supply are generally perceived as unfavourable for energy security, and arguably more cost-effective ways exist to stimulate competitiveness than by innovating energy technologies. In a recent ECN-led project synergies and trade-offs between the three related policy goals were explored. This was done by evaluating existing mitigation scenarios, and assembling insights from the innovation literature, as well as insights with regard to innovative low carbon energy technologies. Furthermore, EU policies and measures to date and EU external relations in the energy field are described. The authors conclude firstly that the synergy between climate change mitigation, energy security and competitiveness suggested by the three-fold objective of EU energy policies is not straightforward for various reasons. Secondly, current EU energy policies to stimulate (nearly) commercial and immature technologies are most likely insufficient to mitigate climate change and secure energy supply up to and beyond 2050. 

ECN supports climate negotiations

Since the international climate negotiators agreed the Bali Action Plan in December 2007, hopes for a new climate treaty have risen. The Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) coordinates the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol and stages the negotiations for its follow-up. When the Bali talks continued in Accra, Ghana, in the last week of August, the UNFCCC turned to the international energy and climate issues group of ECN Policy Studies for advice on technology transfer and finance, one of the main negotiation tracks for the new global agreement. Andrew Higham, scientific researcher at ECN Policy Studies and the main author of the work, presented preliminary results and analysis of existing and possible new finance vehicles and sources, all aimed at advancing international technology transfer, to a group of negotiators and experts. He comments: “They were extremely keen on the results and wanted to accelerate the project so the results could be used earlier in the negotiations.” An outcome of the negotiations could be an enhanced technology framework that provides pragmatic, positive incentives for climate-friendly technology.

THRIVE: Towards a Hydrogen Refueling Infrastructure for Vehicles

This project consists of a consortium of Shell, Linde Gas, TNO, ECN Policy studies and the coordinator ECN Hydrogen and Clean Fossil Fuels. The objective of the THRIVE project is to identify plausible routes and technological options for the development of a hydrogen infrastructure for refueling of hydrogen vehicles in the Netherlands. The introduction and deployment of hydrogen refueling stations infrastructure in the Netherlands will pertain to great societal and other changes in the existing system. What the introduction of such a large scale refueling infrastructure will entail in terms of spatial planning, legal issues, fuelling and car purchasing behaviour, and policy requirements is largely insufficiently understood. ECN Policy Studies aims at complementing the technological and modeling research conducted by the other partners in the project, by analysing the following themes: opportunities and threats stemming from spatial planning and permitting procedures; consumer behaviour with respect to fuelling, driving and buying hydrogen vehicles; and policy issues. In addition we will focus on lessons to be learned from the building and operation of already existing commercial hydrogen refueling stations.

ECN starts project on consumer response to energy labels in buildings

When an existing dwelling changes owner or tenant, the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) requires an energy performance certificate to be issued. This certificate includes a label and recommendations of cost-effective energy saving measures. However, no obligation exists to carry out these saving measures. Since experiences with prior labelling/auditing programmes show that not all cost-effective saving measures are carried out, a risk exists that a large part of the energy saving potential in existing dwellings will not be realised under the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. This is especially relevant as existing dwellings are responsible for a major share of the saving potential in dwellings. The project IDEAL EPBD will analyse consumer behaviour, barriers and policy instruments in ten different countries. It will provide empirical evidence and monitoring by applying in-depth interviews and electronic questionnaires and will develop policy action plans to change consumer behaviour, which will be disseminated in the complete EU-27, in order to optimise the effect of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. The EU-funded project (IEE programme) will start 1 October, 2008. Please send an E-mail to the coordinator if you want to be kept informed on the project findings.

Final conference SOLID-DER

At a final Conference on 25/26 September in Warsaw the SOLID-DER project, a 6th Framework project 2006-2008, presents his findings and recommendations concerning solutions to increase the contribution of RES and DG in the electricity supply in all EU-27 countries. Conclusions suggest:

• Support mechanisms for renewable electricity in the Member States have led to a substantial increase of RES-E and DG shares in several MS.
• Some major barriers towards increasing the contribution of RES & DG still exist, i.e. unclear and complex network access/connection procedures, unfair sharing of costs & benefits etc.
• In future extra policy measures are necessary to secure a more efficient large-scale penetration for meeting the EU RES & CO2 targets in 2020, i.e. by improving efficiency support schemes, changes in network regulation and responsibilities of DSO etc.