PEEREA's role in energy efficiency policy making and delivery in a pan European perspective

Panel: Panel 1. Strategies and integrated policies

Authors:
Tudor Constantinescu, Energy Charter Secretariat
Rod Janssen, Energy Consultant
Lene Nielsen, Danish Energy Authority

Abstract

Progress has been made during the last couple of years in energy efficiency policies across Europe. In the EU a number of new relevant Directives came into force, in the new EU member countries and the other accession ones integration into the EU structures gave an impetus to energy efficiency policies . In addition, international co-operation, dialogue and exchange of ideas have helped identifying main changes, developments, good and less good practices on a country by country basis.

And still, opportunities are sometimes missed and the energy-saving potential if far from being tapped.

Energy efficiency is equally important for transition economies and for industrialised/developed countries concerned about climate change and security of supply. It is in this context that the Energy Charter Protocol on Energy Efficiency and Related Environmental Aspects (PEEREA) brings together 50 countries (mainly Europe but also all Former Soviet Union states, Japan and Australia). The Working Group established to serve PEEREA is acting as a forum for exchange of views and policy dialogue but also as a intergovernmental pressure group guiding on a "peer" basis policy formulation and implementation in the participating countries. Activities developed by the PEEREA Group reflect its dual nature: facilitate and monitor developments in energy efficiency policies and programmes. The Energy Charter Secretariat (ECS) has issued a number of publications, including:

Advice on developing an energy efficiency strategy
Manual on financing mechanisms
Report on fiscal policies for improving energy efficiency
Report on effects of market liberalisation on energy efficiency
The in-depth energy efficiency reviews of: Slovak Republic, Lithuania, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Estonia, Denmark, Czech Republic, Moldova, Croatia (still to be published)
The road towards an energy efficient future a progress report on improving energy efficiency across Europe for the Kiev Environmental Ministerial Conference
Third Party Financing - achieving its potential
Investing in energy efficiency - removing the barriers
Carbon trading and energy efficiency (still to be published)
Best practices for CHP/DH - role of local authorities (still to be published)

The presentation in the poster section reflects on the main activities of the PEEREA Working Group and main actions for monitoring and evaluating policy developments in the area of energy efficiency across Europe.