Implementation of Energy Efficiency Measures in Denmark Towards Sustainability

Abstract

The main aim of this paper is to present means and schemes for implementation of energy efficiency measures used in Denmark for supporting a development towards sustainability. Denmark has achieved valuable experiences during the last 25 years in energy planning and implementation of means and measures for energy savings. The result is a primary energy consumption, which is at the same level as 25 years ago. Sustainability in Denmark as well as in many other countries is basically interpreted as reduction of CO2 emissions in order to limit the very serious consequences of global climate change. The main message in the paper is that means for implementation of energy efficiency measures and the organisational structure under which the means are managed are crucial for the process of reducing energy consumption. Even though an energy plan is important for target setting and analysis of options and scenarios, nothing is achieved without the right mixture of cost efficient means for implementation of actual measures complemented by a supportive organisational structure. The paper briefly presents means applied in Denmark through the various organisations. It focuses then on a new successful organisation, the Danish Electricity Saving Trust, and presents the specific means used by the Trust for electricity savings in the public and residential sectors. The means used by the Trust comprise a subsidy scheme for conversion of electric heated houses, campaigns for efficient electric equipment, strengthening of the market introduction of efficient electric equipment, a procurement policy initiative for bulk purchasers in public institutions and housing associations and development and demonstration projects. Finally, the paper briefly presents some changes in the energy efficiency set-up due to the opening of the energy market in Denmark resulting in both additional opportunities and barriers. It should be noticed that solutions chosen in Denmark should not directly be transferred to other countries. Instead, barriers, opportunities and organisational structure should be analysed in advance, before deciding on the specific set-up for implementation of energy efficiency measures.