Implementing low carbon policies: good practices, framework and constraints

Daniel SteinerJOANNEUM RESEARCH Forschungsgesellschaft mbHGraz, May 24th 2013

To achieve a conversion of the energy system both global and regional approaches for reducing energy demand and GHG are needed.

Regional/local actions become more important

Many regional initiatives evolvedThe question is: How can be learn from

innovative approaches to not reinvent the wheel?

Rationale

Insights to good practice examples for reducing energy demand and GHG emissions (work in progress) Collection of innovative ideas

Getting insights to common sucess factors and a common procedure/common methodology for creating such approaches

Intentions

Our approach (1)

Investigating innovative/sucessful

initiatives

Surveying specific features of initiatives

Finding a common procedure for

creating/running the initiatives and finding

success factors

13+ initiatives surveyed so far

Our approach (2)

Investigating innovative/sucessful

initiatives

Surveying specific features of initiatives

Standardized template created• Short general description• Steps of creating the initiative• Targets and targets

determination• Success factors / barriers• Responsibility• Costs • Economic effects

Our approach (3)Finding a common procedure

for creating/running the initiatives and finding success

factors

Survey of status quo

Defining targets

Survey of potential Definition of

specific measures

Strong stakeholder involvement

Expert Guidance

Monitoring & Motivation

2 Types of initiatives• Strategy development (macro-level)• Buttom-up initiatives (micro-level)

Selected examples of buttom-up approaches• Learning Energy Efficiency Networks (LEEN)• Climate and Energy Model Regions• e5 (for municipalities)• Thermoprofit• Warm Zones• Electricity Saving Check

Selected examples

LEEN establishes systematically networks of approx. 10 – max. 15 companies)

Learning Energy Efficiency Networks (1)

Effects: • Energy efficiency is doubled• ¾ of measures had an internal interest rate >12%

Responsibility: • key player to initiate and maintain momentum of the

networkSuccess factors/Barriers:

• (+) Experience exchange reduces „information costs“• (+) One player takes the leading role to maintain

momentum• (+) Professional consulting and moderation (process

steering)• (+) Long-lasting initiative (mutual trust)• (+) Participating companies must not

be competitor

Learning Energy Efficiency Networks (2)

This initiative supports regions which target to become independent from fossil fuels

Comprises 1,113 municipalities and 2.5 mio. inhabitants (Feb. 2013)

Steps:• Concept development and

stakeholder inclusion• Regional manager is financed

and gets training• Exclusive investment subsidies for

respective measures

Climate and Energy Model Regions (1)

Costs: • Max. amount per region is € 100,000 for 2 years• Required co-funding of municipality of at least 40%

Responsibility: • Regional manager; municipalities

Success factors/Barriers:• (+) Concept for energy related measures• (+) A main person in charge• (+) Inclusion of reginal stakeholders• (+) Co-financing (Incentive to be sucessful)• (+) Maximum size of region

(< 60,000 inhabitants)• (+) Possibility to use strengths of the

region

Climate and Energy Model Regions (2)

Specifically intends to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy in municipalities

Is not one single project, but rather a continuous program; bundles many small and different energy efficiency and renewable energy projects

Steps• Access phase (e5 team is established; status quo and

action plan)• Continuous implementation action

(implementation; annual but internal progress monitoring; adaption/expansion of work plan)

• External monitoring and award

e5 (1)

Motivation:

Responsibility: • e5-team (key inhabitants of municipality); assistance

by regional „e5-advisors“

Success factors/Barriers:• (+) Inclusion of relevant stakeholders in a

municipality plus professional assistance by e5-advisors

• (+) Frequent audits provide feedback about success of e5-team

• (+) Awards motivate and provide a positive image to the municipality

e5 (2)

Initiative by the UK GovernmentWard-by-ward approach; Within a ward all

house-holds are surveyedBased on this information HH get energy eff.

measures for free or for preferential deep rates

Steps• Awareness raising • Assessment• Discounted schemes• Surveying• Installation of physical measures

Warm Zones (1)

Combination of energy and social policyResponsibility:

• Warm Zones Limited“Success factors/Barriers:

• (+/-) high amount of funding• (+) Familiarity• (+) Impartial expert advice• (+) Comprehensive but quick survey• (+) Post action check

Warm Zones (2)

Electricity savings are promoted by advising specifically socially disadvantaged households

Currently 100 cities/towns/municipalities/districts are covered by this initiative

Steps:• Survey of status quo by professional advisor (by

former long-time unemployed people)• “Energy saving starter set” for free (builds up

confidence)• Surveying of energy saving potential• Financial assistance at higher

investments (“micro-contracting“)• no monitoring

Electricity saving check (1)

Costs: • Highly efficient through combination of environmental

and social policy (job for long-time unemployed people)

• Energy saving set approx. € 65,-Responsibility:

• Weak responsibility for affected householdSuccess factors/Barriers:

• (+) Credibility of advisors• (+) Focusing on main interest of target group (cost

saving, environmental protection is a by-product)• (+) Installation of energy saving set

free of charge• (+) Municipalities can save money

(in Germany)

Electricity saving check (2)

Climate Protection Strategy for Styria

Many different local/regional initiatives evolvedDraft method. for initiative process is developedKey success factors:

• Clear picture of status quo and regional potential is needed; an elaborated road-map is required

• Person/group in charge is needed who has also intrinsic incentive for success

• Inclusion of stakeholders• Mutual trust is needed• Professional assistance, support, moderation• Monitoring (for checking success and adapting plans)• Motivation (intrinsic motivation)• Combination of energy and social policy > synergies for

funding

Conclusion

Thank you for your attention!

Daniel SteinerElisabethstraße 18/II 8010 Graz, Austriadaniel.steiner@joanneum.at www.joanneum.at/resources