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TRANSPOSE Working Paper No13: Einsparquote für Deutschland? Machbarkeit und Eignung eines Quotenansatzes zur Erschließung nachfrageseitiger Energieeffizienzpotenziale

Veit Bürger - 2011, 54 pages (Abstract: DE EN) (Download Paper)

Abstract
Experiences gathered with energy saving obligations have been available in Europe for some years, in Denmark, France, the UK and Italy. In these countries such obligations are commonly assessed as being very successful. The present analysis aims to contribute to answering the questions of

• the extent to which experiences made in other EU countries can be transferred to Germany, what contextual factors need to be taken into account in such a discussion and how these factors differ for the above-mentioned countries;
• what design of an energy saving obligation seems appropriate, taking into account the specific German context, so that it triggers the highest possible number of additional efficiency measures; and
• whether a political majority can be found in Germany for the introduction of an energy saving obligation.

Focusing on whether the introduction of an energy saving obligation is suitable and feasible in Germany, the analysis arrives at the following conclusion:

• Experiences gathered with the instrument in other EU countries can only be transferred to Germany to a very limited extent. This is due to the fact that the four countries considered have very different contextual conditions in which such obligations are embedded. In particular, there are differences in the corresponding market structures and the scope of the instruments. Compared to those instruments that have already been implemented, the demands in terms of additionality and extent of control are expected to be higher in Germany.
• The introduction of an energy saving obligation in Germany would have to be complementary – to regulatory instruments in particular. Keeping the specific German context in mind, a design is also conceivable in which efficiency measures would be triggered that go beyond what existing instruments can already bring about.
• Compared to other approaches (most notably, tightening regulations and increasing existing support programs), an energy saving obligation would have advantages in some areas (e.g. in the form of market-driven competition between different packages of energy saving measures) but also disadvantages (e.g. lower effectiveness of the triggered measures mix in achieving specific objectives). Some of the disadvantages can be reduced by tailoring the instrument appropriately (above all by focusing on measures that can be commonly categorised and standardised).
• Acceptance of the instrument currently seems to be low in Germany. Under the premise that increased use of energy efficiency instruments is necessary in Germany to achieve the efficiency targets, other instruments would have to be implemented in place of the energy saving obligation (e.g. tightening legal requirements). Experience has shown that many alternative instruments face strong criticism from diverse interest groups, meaning that disapproval is not limited to the introduction of an energy saving obligation. In every event additional clarification seems necessary for all relevant stakeholder groups.