scholarly journals Latvia’s Energy Efficiency Policy for the Manufacturing Industry in the Green Deal Transition

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Kristaps Ločmelis

By 2030, the European Union (EU) must ensure a 32.5 % reduction in energy consumption compared to the 2007 baseline scenario projection. In Latvia in the period from 2021 to 2030 the cumulative energy efficiency savings of at least 73.7 PJ or 20.5 TWh are expected to be achieved, with the largest share of energy savings coming from the manufacturing sector. On December 11, 2019 the European Commission (EC) set out even more ambitious EU climate targets by publishing the European Green Deal, aiming at EU climate neutrality by 2050, which is not possible without the immediate and significant involvement of industry, while recognizing potential competitiveness risks with global players from countries and regions, where the level of ambition of climate targets lags behind the EU. Significantly, the European Green Deal does not offer to address the risks of industrial competitiveness through subsidies or tax rebates, but emphasizes the importance of energy efficiency policies in energy-intensive industries as one, if not the only, sustainable solution for maintaining global competitiveness. The aim of the study is to analyse Latvia’s energy efficiency and energy policy in relation to manufacturing industries, assessing the impact of existing policies on energy efficiency and reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the transition to climate neutrality defined in the European Green Deal, and provide recommendations for future policy instruments. The analysis includes a comparison of Latvia’s industrial energy intensity with other EU countries, as well as an assessment of the technical potential of energy efficiency in key Latvian manufacturing industries using industrial energy audit data and statistical data processing methods and benchmarking them with results of similar policy studies, assessing the potential for undiscovered energy efficiency and CO2 emission reduction potential in leading industries in Latvia. The dissertation is designed as a set of publications, which combines parts of scientific publications written during doctoral studies. The introduction reflects the aims and objectives of the study, as well as a brief description of its scientific and practical significance. The first chapter examines the existing energy efficiency policy, its goals and literature review of similar policies. The second chapter provides an analysis of Latvia’s industrial sectors, their energy intensity and CO2 emission intensity. The third chapter examines the impact of support policy for energy-intensive industrial enterprises on energy efficiency measures using system dynamics modelling, as well as quantifies these support measures. In the fourth chapter, a comparative analysis of industrial energy audit data in leading industries and an assessment of the undiscovered potential of energy efficiency is performed. In the fifth chapter, the analysis of Latvia’s energy efficiency targets for industry is performed, taking into account the historical and target data of industrial energy intensity and interpreting the necessary trajectory in the context of the European Green Deal. Finally, conclusions and recommendations for future policy instruments are provided.

Author(s):  
Savaş Çevik ◽  
M. Mustafa Erdoğdu ◽  
Fatma Turna

This chapter deals with the instruments and policies to achieve energy efficiency in some of the European Union (EU) member states. The main aim of the study is to search for any efficient combination of policy instruments in the EU. The analysis is based on a unique database, derived out of the MURE project, related to energy efficiency policy measures in 28 EU countries and Norway. The study first describes and evaluates the main purposes and instruments of energy efficiency policies. Then, it classifies the measures applied to promote energy efficiency in sample countries by sectors and examines the impact level of different policy packages on energy efficiency.


2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 405-421
Author(s):  
Lauma Balode ◽  
Kristiāna Dolge ◽  
Peter D. Lund ◽  
Dagnija Blumberga

Abstract It is the responsibility of each member state of the European Union, to prepare a national energy and climate plan and set achievable climate targets and meaningful measures and policies to achieve the targets set. Annex 4 of the Latvian National Energy and Climate Plan for 2030 (hereinafter – NECP) provides an overview of policies and measures to achieve the climate targets. The NECP does not provide information on the impact of the policies or which measures are more important and which are less crucial Similarly, the measures in Annex 4 of the NECP were not determined by industry experts but by ministry officials, therefore, it is not clear whether the proposed measures will achieve the set climate targets, a point also made by European Commission in its evaluation report on NECP. The aim of the study is to develop a tool for the early assessment of the impact of energy and climate policy measures. The study developed a methodology to pre-assess the impacts of the policies identified in the NECP, impacts were described by measures effectiveness and stage of development. With this methodology, it is possible to assess the impact of energy policies using indicators to characterize the effectiveness of the policy and the level of development. The study confirmed that both the multi-criteria analysis and composite index method can be used as methods. The results showed that high impact measures were related to the promotion of energy efficiency in buildings, but low impact measures were comprehensive horizontal measures such as measures related principle ‘energy efficiency first’ and review of energy efficiency obligation schemes. The indicators with the highest impact on sustainability rate were possible side effects and transparency of policies.


2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-57
Author(s):  
Kristaps Locmelis ◽  
Andra Blumberga ◽  
Uldis Bariss ◽  
Dagnija Blumberga ◽  
Lauma Balode

Abstract Energy efficiency policy has been one of the European Union top priorities for decades and will continue to play a vital role in the next 10 years with the introduction of The Clean energy for all Europeans. Likewise, in Latvia energy efficiency has been given high priority; however, the energy efficiency targets for industry has lacked ambitions. This research focuses on evaluating the Latvian industrial energy efficiency policy using top-down approach and benchmarking energy intensity of Latvian industry to the average of the European Union’s. Results confirm that on average Latvian industry consumes 2.6 times more energy to produce the same amount of value added compared to the average in the European Union; however, every saved energy unit in Latvia would save twice less CO2 emissions considering already largely decarbonized energy mix. In the spotlights of the Green Deal proposed by the European Commission, much higher contribution in terms of CO2 reduction and energy efficiency will be expected from the industry. Nevertheless, energy efficiency targets for Latvian industry should be sector-specific, separately addressing CO2 intensive sectors, and non-intensive CO2 sectors with low added value.


Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 1338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ida Johansson ◽  
Nawzad Mardan ◽  
Erwin Cornelis ◽  
Osamu Kimura ◽  
Patrik Thollander

Climate change, due to anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases, is driving policymakers to make decisions to promote more efficient energy use. Improved industrial energy efficiency is said to play a key role in the transition to more carbon-neutral energy systems. In most countries, industrial small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) represent 95% or more of the total number of companies. Thus, SMEs, apart from using energy, are a major driver in the economy with regard to innovation, GDP growth, employment, investments, exports, etc. Despite this, research and policy activities related to SMEs have been scarce, calling for contributions in the field. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to critically assess how adequate energy efficiency policy programmes for industrial SMEs could be designed. Results show that scientific publications in the field differ in scope and origin, but a major emphasis of the scientific papers has been on barriers to and drivers for energy efficiency. Scientific contributions from studies of energy policy programmes primarily cover energy audit programmes and show that the major energy efficiency measures from industrial SMEs are found in support processes. The review further reveals an imbalance in geographic scope of the papers within the field, where a vast majority of the papers emanate from Europe, calling for scientific publications from other parts of the world. The study synthesizes the findings into a general method on how to design efficiency programs for the sector.


2021 ◽  
pp. 80
Author(s):  
Tetiana Pimonenko ◽  
Oleksii Lyulyov ◽  
Yevheniia Ziabina ◽  
Tetiana Vasylyna

Introduction. The growing interest in energy efficiency and energy dependence of countries stimulates the scientific community to explore and analyze the main determinants that influence changes in relevant processes. In particular, the generally accepted Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 include seven goals focused on available energy resources and energy efficiency through the development of green energy and clean technologies. In addition, in 2019, the EU and Ukraine began implementing the «European Green Agreement», which aimed to transition to a carbon-neutral economy and increase energy efficiency.The aim of the study is to analyze the impact of key determinants on energy efficiency policy of the national economy in the context of integration of the European Green Agreement.Research methods. It is necessary to note the main tools that were involved in the bibliometric analysis: databases Scopus and Web of Science (to analyze the trends of publishing activities); VOSviewer (to visualize the results of meta-analysis). The study used the Granger causality test to verify hypothesis on the casual relationships between the selected indicators. Data from the following databases were used: Eurostat, Ukrstat and the European Environment Agency.Results. The obtained results confirmed the bidirectional causality between energy efficiency and renewable energy, as well as the unidirectional causality between greenhouse gas emissions and energy efficiency.Perspectives. Requires further research on the developing of effective instruments for activating the green investment market.


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