Energy efficiency policies in contracting parties of the energy community – an integrative and innovative approach

Panel: 2. Energy efficiency policies: What delivers?

This is a peer-reviewed paper.

Authors:
Violeta Mihaela Kogalniceanu, Energy Community Secretariat (ECS), Austria
Borko Raicevic, Energy Community Secretariat (ECS), Austria

Abstract

Although not yet Member States of the European Union (EU), the Western Balkan countries, Ukraine and Moldova have decided to adopt and implement selected EU energy acquis, including energy efficiency; this decision was made by signing the Energy Community Treaty, as Contracting Parties, in 2005.

Nevertheless, these countries are facing even more barriers to advancing energy efficiency, than the EU Member States; these are linked to their high energy inefficiency in most consumption sectors, low income, high public budget constraints also linked to the severe influence of global economic crisis, weak institutional framework, incomplete legal and regulatory framework, and last but not least, regulated, low energy prices.

Some of the most challenging sectors to implement energy efficiency measures is the public sector; therefore, the paper presents a number of integrated investment projects in the public sector in this region, implemented in parallel with the development of proper legislative, financial and institutional framework. One of the successful regional bodies is the Energy Community Energy Efficiency Task Force that was established in December 2007, with the aim to support the implementation of the energy efficiency acquis and coordinate activities at regional level.

The paper aims to answer how these countries respond to the many challenges to achieve the proper implementation of energy efficiency standards, improve their legislation, adopt incentives, and finally implement concrete projects in this region. The paper argues that one of the possible answers is focus on actions at regional level, development of an extensive cooperation and co-ordination between state and local authorities on the one side, and all other players of relevance for promotion of energy efficiency in this region (EU and pan-regional organizations, donors, International Financial Institutions etc.).