Implementing low carbon policies: good practices, framework and constraints

1. Implementing low carbon policies: good practices, framework and constraints Daniel SteinerJOANNEUM RESEARCH ForschungsgesellschaftmbHGraz, May 24th 2013

2. Rationale • 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 evolved • The question is: How can be learn from innovative approaches to not reinvent the wheel?

3. Intentions • 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

4. Our approach (1) Investigating innovative/sucessful initiatives Surveyingspecificfeaturesof initiatives Finding a commonprocedureforcreating/runningthe initiatives andfindingsuccessfactors

5. Our approach (2) Investigating innovative/sucessful initiatives • 13+ initiatives surveyed so far • Standardized template created • Short general description • Steps of creating the initiative • Targets and targets determination • Success factors / barriers • Responsibility • Costs • Economic effects Surveyingspecificfeaturesof initiatives

6. Our approach (3) Finding a commonprocedureforcreating/runningthe initiatives andfindingsuccessfactors Strong stakeholderinvolvement Survey of potential Definition ofspecificmeasures Monitoring & Motivation Survey ofstatus quo Definingtargets Expert Guidance

7. Selected examples • 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

8. Learning Energy Efficiency Networks (1) • LEEN establishes systematically networks of approx. 10 – max. 15 companies)

9. Learning Energy Efficiency Networks (2) • Effects: • Energy efficiency is doubled • ¾ of measures had an internal interest rate >12% • Responsibility: • key player to initiate and maintain momentum of the network • Success 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

10. Climate and Energy Model Regions (1) • 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 financedand gets training • Exclusive investment subsidies for respective measures

11. Climate and Energy Model Regions (2) • 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

12. e5 (1) • 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

13. e5 (2) • 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

14. Warm Zones (1) • Initiative by the UK Government • Ward-by-ward approach; Within a ward all house-holds are surveyed • Based 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

15. Warm Zones (2) • Combination of energy and social policy • Responsibility: • Warm Zones Limited“ • Success factors/Barriers: • (+/-) high amount of funding • (+) Familiarity • (+) Impartial expert advice • (+) Comprehensive but quick survey • (+) Post action check

16. Electricity saving check (1) • 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

17. Electricity saving check (2) • 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 household • Success 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)

18. Climate Protection Strategy for Styria

19. Conclusion • Many different local/regional initiatives evolved • Draft method. for initiative process is developed • Key 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

20. Thankyouforyourattention! Daniel Steiner Elisabethstraße 18/II 8010 Graz, Austria daniel.steiner@joanneum.atwww.joanneum.at/resources