Reinhard Haas

The impact of consumer behavior on residential energy demand for space heating

Besides technical parameters, consumer behavior is the most important issue with respect to energy consumption in households. In this paper, the results of a cross-section analysis of Austrian households are presented. The impact of the following parameters on residential energy demand for space heating have been investigated: (i) thermal quality of buildings; (ii) consumer behavior; (iii) heating degree days; (iv) building type (singleor multi-family dwellings). The result of this investigation provides evidence of a rebound-effect of about 15 to 30% due to building retrofit. This leads to the conclusion that energy savings achieved in practice (and straightforward the reduction in CO2 emissions) due to energy conservation measures will be lower than those calculated in engineering conservation studies. Straightforward, the most important conclusions for energy policy makers are: (i) Standards, building codes, respectively, are important tools to increase the thermal quality of new buildings; and (ii) Due to prevailing low energy prices, a triggering tool has to be implemented which may be rebates or loans.

Residential energy demand in OECD-countries and the role of irreversible efficiency improvements

Abstract After undergoing substantial changes during a period of high energy prices, household energy demand did not rebound in times of declining energy prices as might have been expected. Hence, other factors, such as irreversible improvements in technical efficiency, must be understood in order to describe both past and future household energy demand. In this paper we consider irreversible efficiency improvements as a major reason for the moderate growth in energy demand after the plummeting of the oil price in 1985. We test different econometric models to take into account efficiency indicators. The major conclusions of our investigation are: (i) price elasticities are different for rising and falling prices — for the latter they are close to zero, implying a low rebound-effect in the residential sector; (ii) technical efficiency is an important parameter for describing and forecasting energy demand; and (iii) income elasticities turn out to be higher once we incorporate indicators of technological efficiency in the process of estimating energy demand.

How to promote renewable energy systems successfully and effectively

This paper summarises the major recommendations and conclusions of the third Forum of the European Network on Energy Research (ENER) which took place in June 2002 in Budapest. The major perceptions of this meeting as well as the most important conclusions and recommendations for energy policy makers are compiled in this summary. The statements compiled in the following represent a consensus within the ENER Network while on some questions differences in perception and analysis persisted.

The rebound effect for space heating Empirical evidence from Austria

Abstract The major focus of this paper is to investigate the magnitude of the `rebound effect’ for space heating in Austria. Different approaches are applied and compared. The most important result of this investigation is that despite the fact that all approaches applied have their weaknesses and some results were not highly significant the final outcomes of the different approaches show quite good coincidence. They provide evidence of a rebound effect between 20 and 30%. The most important conclusions for energy policy makers are: (i) standards with respect to building codes are very important tools to increase the thermal quality of new buildings; (ii) due to prevailing low energy prices a triggering tool, which may be rebates or loans, has to be implemented to increase the efficiency of the building stock.

On the Success of Policy Strategies for the Promotion of Electricity from Renewable Energy Sources in the Eu

In recent years, a wide range of strategies has been implemented in different EU-countries to increase the share of electricity generation from renewable energy sources. This paper evaluates the success of different regulatory strategies. The most important conclusions of this analysis are: (i) regardless of which strategy is chosen, it is of overriding importance that there should be a clear focus on the exclusive promotion of newly installed plants; (ii) a well-designed (dynamic) feed-in tariff system ensures the fastest deployment of power plants using Renewable Energy Sources at the lowest cost to society; (iii) promotion strategies with low policy risks have lower profit requirements for investors and, hence, cause lower costs to electricity customers.

Energy efficiency indicators in the residential sector: What do we know and what has to be ensured?

The residential sector was the focus of most of the energy policies in International Energy Agency (IEA) countries after the oil price shocks of the 1970s. In order to assess the impact of these policies, it is important to construct and establish a set of key, internationally accepted, energy efficiency indicators for use in cross-country comparisons. This paper focuses on the methodological issues rather than comprehensive applications of cross-country comparisons. The major conclusions are as follows: 1. (1) end uses can be identified with reasonable reliability; 2. (2) in principle, the energy and CO2 indicators necessary for policy assessment can be identified and derived; 3. (3) the key factors for both normalization (climate) and comparison are understood; 4. (4) the development of more disaggregated structural indicators is the key to gaining a better understanding of the evolution of the demand of energy services; 5. (5) a better measurement of the impact of life-styles is necessary for meaningful cross-country comparisons.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF THE AUSTRIAN 200 kWp-PHOTOVOLTAIC-ROOFTOP PROGRAMME

Abstract Between 1992 and 1994 a 200 kWp-rooftop programme to promote small grid-connected Photovoltaic (PV) systems was conducted in Austria. Within this programme about 100 PV systems with an average capacity of 2.28 kWp were installed. This paper investigates the socio-economic aspects of this programme and the prospects for a further dissemination of this technology. The major conclusions of this investigation are as follows: (1) The motives to invest in a PV system are: (i) environmental protection; (ii) an alternative to nuclear power; (iii) technical interest. Yet, it is also important that the public supports this purchase by means providing subsidies. (2) The purchase of a PV system leads to different changes in consumer behaviour. Consumers with low initial consumption increased their electricity demand slightly, while the majority of consumers with high initial electricity demand saved electricity. (3) The financial incentives in the programme were not optimally designed. With the same amount of total subsidies it would have been possible to promote more PV systems. (4) The key factors for a further dissemination of PV systems are: (i) financial incentives; (ii) a reduction of the investment costs; (iii) increase in reliability; (iv) distribution of information; (v) enhancement of environmental awareness.

The value of photovoltaic electricity for society

Abstract This paper addresses several issues to be considered when assessing the value of PV electricity. The value of PV has been examined from various perspectives—consumer, utility, and environmental—and for central and decentralized PV systems. Aggregating these benefits leads to the value of PV for society. In this context, economic and ecological aspects have been considered. furthermore, feedback from consumers drawing electricity directly from the sun have been taken into account. This is expressed mainly as energy conservation and load-shift effects triggered by changes in consumer behaviour due to decentralized PV systems. Finally, it is proposed that, collectively, the benefits of PV systems will ensure its continued promotion and development as an energy resource, resulting in a presumably slow but steady increase in market penetration.

Market deployment strategies for photovoltaics: an international review

In the last decade of the 20th century a wide variety of deployment strategies and dissemination programmes for grid-connected PV systems in the built environment has been launched by quite different organizations and institutions. Governmental bodies on national and local levels have launched strategies, as have electric utilities and NGOs. The core objective of this paper is to document and evaluate the most important past and current market deployment strategies for the broader dissemination of grid-connected PV systems in the built environment.

Promoting electricity from renewable energy sources -- lessons learned from the EU, U.S. and Japan

Promoting electricity from renewable energy sources – lessons learned from the EU, U.S. and Japan Reinhard Haas 1 , Niels I. Meyer 2 , Anne Held 3 , Dominique Finon 4 , Arturo Lorenzoni 5 , Ryan Wiser 6 , Ken-ichiro Nishio 7 Energy Economics Group, Vienna University of Technology, Gusshausstrasse 27-29/373-2, A-1040 Vienna, AUSTRIA, Tel. ++43-1-58801-37352, Fax. ++43-1-58801-37397 E-mail: Reinhard.Haas@tuwien.ac.at BYG, Technical University of Denmark, Brovej building 118 DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, DENMARK Tel.: ++45 45 25 17 00 E-mail: nim@byg.dtu.dk Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research, Breslauer Str. 48; 76139 Karlsruhe, GERMANY Tel. ++49-721-6809-358, Fax ++49-689-152, E-mail: Anne.Held@isi.fhg.de CIRED (Centre International de Recherche pour l’Environnement et le Developpement), 32 avenue de la Belle Gabrielle, 94736 Nogent sur Marne, FRANCE Affiliation: Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences sociales et Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Tel. ++33 1 4394 7384; Fax: ++33 1 4394 7370; E-mail: finon@centre-cired.fr IEFE, Bocconi University, Viale Filippetti 9, 20122 Milan, ITALY Tel: ++39-02-5836 3820, Fax ++39-02-5836-3890 E-mail: arturo.lorenzoni@unibocconi.it Lawrence Berkeley National Lab 1 Cyclotron Road, MS 90-4000, Berkeley, CA 94720 Tel: ++510-486-5474, Fax: ++510-486-6996 E-Mail: rhwiser@lbl.gov Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, 2-11-1 Iwado Kita, Komae-shi, Tokyo 201-8511, Japan Tel: ++81 3 3480 2111, Fax: ++81 3 3480 3492 E-Mail: nishio@criepi.denken.or.jp