Showing posts with label energy efficiency. Show all posts
Showing posts with label energy efficiency. Show all posts

Global electricity consumption expected to increase by 2030 due to digitalization


Digitalization and the development of information and communication technologies are transforming energy systems. 
Find out more about the impacts of ICTs on the energy transition by reading our latest executive brief: https://goo.gl/MGbGXV

AEMO expects Australia to phase out coal power in the next 20 years

The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has unveiled the new Integrated System Plan for the National Electricity Market, which forecasts the likely changes that will be occurring over the next 20 years across the domestic power market. Despite the anticipated electrification of the transport sector over the next 20 years, electricity grid demand will flatten, due to the growth of solar rooftop PV installations and energy storage coupled with energy efficiency efforts.
Existing coal-fired power plants that generate around 70 TWh/year - one third of the NEM's demand - will continue operating until the end of their operational life (by 2040 at the latest) as it would be uneconomical to retire them before the end of their operational lifespan. Replacing them later on with renewables - whose costs are falling -, gas-fired capacity, distributed generation capacity and energy storage systems (including pumped-storage) would be more cost efficient.
The domestic power grid will shift to a more decentralised system model: 28 GW of solar, 10.5 GW of wind, 17 GW of storage and 500 MW of flexible gas-fired generation will be set up along with a significant upgrade of the domestic power transmission system.

More energy news: https://goo.gl/JX6nho
For more detailed analysis and energy data on Australia and over 100 countries worldwide, try our Global Energy Research service: https://goo.gl/ViGPaJ

Mind the gap: Aligning the 2030 EU climate and energy policy framework to meet long-term climate goals

For a better coordination of climate and energy policies through the regulation on the Governance of the Energy Union.



Enerdata collaborated with the Institute for Climate Economics (I4CE) to produce the report titled: Mind the gap: Aligning the 2030 EU climate and energy policy framework to meet long-term climate goals.
Produced within the framework of the COPEC II research program, the publication provides an analysis of the interaction between European energy and climate policies, based on both historical data (back to 2005) and projections (up to 2030). The report also offers recommendations to mitigate counteractive interactions between policies and build a climate and energy framework consistent with the Paris Agreement before 2030.

The key findings of this report are:
  • - The negotiations on the EU 2030 climate and energy framework are an opportunity to implement a coherent and ambitious policy mix in the EU and fulfill its commitment under the Paris Agreement.
  • - The EU ETS and the ESR do not ensure the achievement of the EU’s NDC by 2030.
  • - The carbon budgets set by the EU ETS and the ESR should be calibrated carefully in order to be efficient.
  • - Renewable energy sources and increased energy efficiency contributed greatly to reducing GHG emissions over 2005-2015 and are projected to remain the main drivers of reduction in the post-2020 period.
  • - Emissions reductions create counterproductive interactions with other policies, such as the EU ETS and the ESR, when not appropriately taken into account. The agreed reform of the EU ETS is not expected to be sufficient to mitigate these interactions.
  • - Legislation under negotiation will fall short of the EU long-term ambition, which is itself insufficient to meet the objectives set during the Paris Agreement and should aim at net-zero emissions by 2050.
  • - The EU policy package should align with the 2030 climate and energy framework to mitigate policy interaction, and with an increased long-term ambition in line with the Paris Agreement.

Enerdata releases the report on energy efficiency policies. (world level)



 WEC_EEP_2013
 Enerdata has prepared  for the WEC Secretariat a report on energy efficiency policy at world level within a project chaired by ADEME and available on the WEC web site.
The report evaluates energy efficiency trends and policies at world level. A selection of indicators are analysed and compared in this report . 
The report also describes energy efficiency policies carried out in a large sample of 85 countries throughout the world, either through a survey that was carried out in about 50 countries or through literature review for the remaining countries. This survey was completed with detailed case studies focused on four policy measures, prepared by selected experts: innovative financing schemes in building, measures to accelerate the penetration of efficient air conditioners and their efficient use, smart billing and measures to improve the efficiency of road transport of freight. Beyond a review of energy efficiency measures already implemented, this evaluation aimed to pinpoint the most interesting experiences and draw some conclusions on advantages and drawbacks of different policies. The study is concluded by 8 main recommendations: energy prices should reflect real costs and give more incentive signals to consumers; consumers should be better informed; innovative financing tools should be implemented to support consumers investments ; the quality of energy efficient equipment and services should be controlled; regulations should be enforced and  regularly strengthened; behaviours should be addressed as much as technologies, relying on ICTs; monitoring achievements is necessary to check the real impact of  energy efficiency policies; finally, international and regional cooperation should be enhanced. 


The Future lies in Smart Grids but...

An analysis of the Challenges ahead for Smart Grids

Smart grids are seen by many as an effective solution to address some of the toughest challenges the electricity industry has faced so far; the integration of renewables on a very large scale, the promised rise in number of electric vehicles, the necessity of energy efficiency, the improved security of supply or the arrival of the ‘prosumer’. Equipment manufacturers and IT solution providers are eagerly awaiting the hundreds of billions of euros to be invested over the next decades.

In this article, we advocate that smart grid technologies have the potential to transform the electricity markets given they are for the most part readily available, but, the correct regulatory framework first needs to be put in place. Failure to recognise the need for a regulatory overhaul can only hamper and delay the deployment of smart grids and their expected benefits.


From vertical integration to network unbundling

The present European electricity system is the result of a process that started shortly after World War II. National or regional vertically integrated monopolies rapidly became the dominant business model in the electricity industry. This model proved highly efficient in developing the numerous European electricity networks in times of vigorous growth.

To this day, the European electricity system has been characterised by a high degree of centralisation with mostly unidirectional electricity flows. In the current configuration, large-scale power plants generate electricity that is transported over long distances through a high voltage grid and distributed locally to end-customers through medium and low voltage distribution grids.

Following the market liberalisation experience initiated in the UK and the US in the 80’s and 90’s, continental European electricity markets have been progressively liberalised. The European Commission itself has pushed the European electricity supply industry towards unbundling through a series of Directives, the last of which - the so-called “third energy package” - came into effect in March 2011. As a result, European electricity systems now comprise a mix of regulated and competitive elements. Power generation, wholesale supply and retail supply have become competitive segments of the value chain while transmission and distribution have remained regulated businesses because of their natural monopoly characteristics.

Evolution of network regulation objectives

Evolution of network regulation objectives
Source: Enerdata

The primary objective of market liberalisation was to lower costs for users. Accordingly, the first regulatory phase that followed unbundling was geared towards a cost-efficient management of existing grids through the minimisation of operational expenditure (OPEX) and the rationalisation of investments. This economic objective was to be achieved without endangering the quality of power and the security of supply.

For regulators, the main challenge is how to introduce new objectives such as the integration of renewables on a large scale, the enabling of demand side response (DSR) and energy efficiency.

Read the entire article: http://goo.gl/BUftu

Retrofitting of building

A cost-efficiency analysis

Retrofitting of BuildingIn 2010, the French Ministry of Research funded a three-year study to analyze possible solutions leading to a reduction in CO2 emissions that could be feasibly implemented across a large city. This study sought to construct cost-effectiveness indicators in various sectors (building, transport, non-carbon energy production).Cost-effectiveness ratios measure the effort required to implement a solution and the impact in terms of CO2 savings. The results for the buildings are summarized below.

Diagnosis of the housing stock in Grenoble

The housing stock in Grenoble can be depicted in 40 segments; 5 construction ages x 4 technologies used in heating apartments and identical for single houses. The energy consumption and CO2 emissions for each segment were estimated for 2010 and summarized in the table below.


Energy consumption and CO2 emissions
for space heating in Grenoble in 2010

Energy consumption and CO<sub>2</sub> emissions for space heating in Grenoble in 2010
Source: Enerdata


A great deal of heterogeneity exists within the building stock. For example, individual houses consume significantly more energy than apartments. Similarly, housing built before 1974 accounts for 65% of the total area but 82% of CO2 emissions.

Three strategies to reduce CO2 emissions in space heating

There are three ways to reduce CO2 emissions in space heating: insulation, upgrading heating equipment and the reduction of CO2 content of electricity and district heating.

Insulating the building is the solution that comes first to mind. This work includes the insulation of facades, roofs, floors and the replacement of old windows with new less emitting ones. The impact of renovation operations differs from one situation to another. The insulation of old buildings obviously generates more CO2 savings than an operation undertaken on a more recent construction submitted to insulation standards when built.

The second solution is to consider upgrading the heating systems. The installation of a modern boiler can save about 25% in energy consumption - and therefore CO2 - against the initial boiler. When considering this replacement, it may be appropriate to plan an energy switch. For example, it could make sense to replace a collective gas boiler with district heating or to replace individual gas boilers with heat pumps.

The third solution consists of a CO2 content reduction of electricity and district heating. In terms of district heating, the heat can be produced from coal, gas, municipal waste, biomass, etc. Increasing the share of biomass aids in the reducing CO2 content of this energy carrier. For electricity, it is also possible to influence the relative share of energy inputs and thus promote non-carbon electricity. In most developed countries, the CO2 content of electricity is between 400 and 500 grams per kWh. France this figure is much less (80 gCO2/kWh) because of the importance of nuclear. In Switzerland and Finland, it is even lower and electricity is almost carbon free. For the last 30 years, the CO2 content of electricity has declined in many developed countries. But past trends do not necessarily reflect those of the future and making accurate predictions on this subject is a notoriously difficult exercise.

Read the entire article

Poland Energy Market Report

Discover the latest developments in the Poland Energy Market, including it's energy efficiency plans. 

poland energy market
In compliance with the European Directive on energy efficiency adopted in 2006 (2006/32/EC), Poland presented its National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP), which lays down a final energy savings target of at least 9% in 2016, i.e. 53.5 TWh.

The second NEEAP (late 2011) raised the energy savings target to 11% by 2016 (5.8 Mtoe or 67.2 TWh), 38% of which should be achieved through the white certificate system, 19% through existing information campaigns, 24% in the transport sector, 12% in the residential sector (mainly through the retrofitting of buildings with the Thermo-Modernization Program), 4% in industry and 3% in the public sector.


In compliance with the European Union 20-20-20 goals Poland aims to reduce energy consumption by 20% by 2020 compared with the business as usual scenario.

Energy efficiency is one of the six main objectives of the Energy Policy until 2030 adopted in 2009. It aims at reducing the country’s energy intensity to the EU-15 average and to achieve “zero-energy” economic growth by 2030, i.e. raising the GDP without increasing energy consumption.

In 2009 a draft of the Polish Energy Efficiency Law was presented, targeting reductions in energy consumption and in transmission losses. The Energy Efficiency Act was adopted in April 2011, defining the purposes of energy savings and establishing support mechanisms. The key measure is the introduction of white certificates, imposed on companies that sell electricity, gas or heat. White certificates should be obtained for energy savings with end-users (for about 80%), by generators (10%) and by electricity network operators (10%). Poland’s energy efficiency policy also relies on the European ecodesign and labeling directives for electrical appliances.

Energy efficiency in the residential and tertiary sector is also targeted. In 1999, the Thermo-Modernization Program launched financial premiums for end-use improvements in residential and tertiary buildings (20% reimbursement of the loan for efficiency projects), fuel substitutions (renewables) and energy loss reduction in heat distribution networks.

Read More