Recommendations for a balanced energy policy

Energy Transition

19 Apr

Recommendations for a Balanced Energy Policy

Original title: Anbefalinger til en balanceret energipolitik

Denmark has an ambition to become a low-emission society in 2050. Broadly speaking this can be achieved by a combination of deployment of renewable energy and increasing energy efficiency. The ambition is supported by a range of medium and long term targets for CO2 emissions and deployment of renewable energy. The energy policy in Denmark is primarily decided upon in broad energy agreements.

In the forthcoming energy agreement on the energy policy for the period 2020-2030 politicians need to strike a cost-effective balance between renewable energy and energy efficiency. Looking at the cost reductions renewable energy technologies have been able to achieve in recent years, a question is whether energy efficiency still has a role to play in Danish energy policy?

In this study, we argue that the answer is yes. We evaluate existing studies on the cost-effective savings potentials of energy efficiency in existing buildings and in businesses, and we find that there is still a significant savings potentials which is untapped. Further, the implementation of the Paris agreement is expected to be followed by massive global investments in energy efficiency technologies, which can bring economic benefits to Denmark.

The study is commissioned by Danfoss, Velux, Grundfos, and Rockwool.

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