IEPPEC Energy Evaluation Academy on COMBI

September 19, 2018 Johannes Thema

Multiple impacts of energy efficiency: approaches, results and insights from the COMBI project

WEBINAR COURSE (in real time)

20 Sep 2018 @ 13:00 CEST

Duration: 1h

They have long been around: co-, non-energy or multiple benefits of energy efficiency. Latest since 2014 with the IEA report Capturing the Multiple Benefits of Energy Efficiency, they also arrived at the heart of political discourse in Europe. What do we know on those multiple impacts at European level, which quantifications are there? What methods can be applied for assessing multiple impacts of future policies, in order to take better informed decisions? Do we have an idea of the size of multiple impacts?
This webinar gives first answers to these questions and introduces participants to the online tool containing all quantifications from the COMBI project (“Calculating and Operationalising the Multiple Benefits of Energy Efficiency in Europe”)

COMBI results overview & policy conclusions

June 22, 2018 Johannes Thema

The final COMBI policy report is now available online:

Multiple impacts in policy-making and evaluation

Abstract: The final COMBI policy report is an overview report on project findings and conclusions. It first explains the background of the discussion on multiple impacts and the motivations and approaches taken by the COMBI project. A significant part displays briefly the main findings in impact quantifications. In a separate chapter, the aggregation of impacts is shown and cost-benefit indicators and results explained. Finally, reasearchers draw conclusions – on the possible size and significance of multiple impacts and for policy-making. Additionally, detailed impact-specific conclusions and recommendations are included.

Multiple impacts in policy-making and evaluation (PDF, 11 MB)

D8.2 Policy report on COMBI results

Authors: Johannes Thema, Jana Rasch, Felix Suerkemper, Stefan Thomas (Wuppertal Institute)

With contributions from:

Johan Couder (University of Antwerp)
Souran Chatterjee (ABUD)
Jens Teubler (Wuppertal Institute)
Martin Bo Hansen and Sabine Wilke (Copenhagen Economics)
Nora Mzavanadze and Stefan Bouzarovski (University of Manchester)

COMBI in a 4-page nutshell

June 14, 2018June 22, 2018 Johannes Thema

The COMBI brochure (D8.3) summarises project approaches, main findings and recommendations on a 4-page summary brochure. This is available as a screen version with hyperlinks and a print-version with page sorted to be printed & folded as 2-pages, double-side.

screen version | print version

COMBI @EUSEW 2018

June 12, 2018June 12, 2018 Johannes Thema

Johannes Thema (Wuppertal Institute) presented main COMBI findings on 7 June 2018 at the European Sustainable Energy Week in the session on “Learning from experience and involving energy-citizens; two ways of improving energy-related policymaking”

EUSEW session

COMBI online tool & final conference documentation

May 23, 2018May 23, 2018 Johannes Thema

The new COMBI online tool has been launched during the final COMBI conference on 17 May 2018 and is now accessible via the COMBI website menu. The tool contains all major project quantifications of Multiple Impacts of Energy Efficiency and links to the relevant project reports on methodologies.

Vincent Berruto, head of the EASME energy unit introduced the project to the audience. Kathleen Gaffney from the IEA gave latest developments and news on Multiple Impact quantification with international examples. Paul Hodson, head of the energy efficiency unit in DG ENER explained how the discourse on Multiple Impacts is increasingly important in negotiations on current energy efficiency legislation between the EU Parliamant, the Commission and the Council.

The COMBI team presented research findings and the online tool programmed within the project for giving public access to all quantifications.

External speakers presented on other ongoing efforts in Europe to quantify multiple impacts: the ODYSSEE-MURE multiple benefits facility, quantifying numerous impacts of EE policies, looking backwards and against a reference scenario without EE policies; the M-BENEFITS project that will analyse multiple benefits in the industry sector and develop tools how to integrate them into business decision-making frameworks that make EE investments more attractive relative to alternatives; and efforts at UCL to better quantify the complex interdependencies of health impacts from building refurbishment.

Find all presentations in the download section

COMBI conference 17 May: sign up for live-stream!

May 14, 2018 Johannes Thema

Multiple Impacts of Energy Efficiency in Policymaking

Programme: Keynotes by IEA and DG ENER, presentations of project findings by COMBI researchers, input from other European projects on the topic and expert panel on the future of MI assessments in policy.
Date: May 17, 13.00-17.30 CET

More details on conference programme

Live-stream

The entire conference is streamed live. Registration is possible under the link below. Registered participants can participate to the whole event or log in only part-time for sessions of interest (please see conference program). Our GoToWebinar software also allows asking questions for remote participants.

Free registration for COMBI webinar

Note: when registering for the webinar, you will be asked for your name and email address. This will solely be used for automated communication related to the webinar and deleted afterwards.

COMBI final conference: registration until 10th May!

May 7, 2018May 14, 2018 Johannes Thema

Launch of online tool and final project conference in Brussels

On 17 May 2018 in Brussels, COMBI organizes the final project conference, where we officially launch our online tool quantifying the multiple impacts of Energy Efficiency. Registration for the event until 10th May! Participation to live-stream open.

Background: The EU follows the „energy efficiency first“ principle – with one key reason being that efficiency not only brings energy and greenhouse gas savings but also a range of multiple benefits or impacts. But of what size are impacts? How can they be included in cost-benefit analysis? Do they really bring added value to the policy discourse and should energy policy departments team up with others to reap those benefits?
Audience invited: The event is dedicated to policymakers and their assistants, consultants, to researchers and journalists on the field, but open to the general public. Participation is free of charge.

Programme: Keynotes will explain the current value of quantifying multiple impacts in policymaking from an international perspective (Kathleen Gaffney, IEA) and from an EU perspective (Paul Hodson, DG ENER, Head of Energy Efficiency Unit).

COMBI project researchers present approaches and findings for the quantifications of multiple impacts of energy efficiency in the EU by 2030. Most important impact quantifications have been included to an online tool that will be launched during the event and will be available immediately to participants open-access.
The conference also presents ex-post assessments and results from other European projects and models and discusses if and how multiple impacts can contribute to strengthen the case for energy efficiency in the future.

Conference program available here.

Date: 17 May 2018, 13.00-17.30 CET

Venue: First Euroflat Hotel, Boulevard Charlemagne 50, 1000 Brussels

The organizer reserves the right to make changes to the event program.

Register now

Register for live-stream

Questions on registration & organisation: info@abud.hu

Questions on content & press contact: info@combi-project.eu

ACEEE: Health impacts of air pollution

May 3, 2018May 3, 2018 Johannes Thema

The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) published a report authored by Sara Hayes and Cassandra Kubes entitled

Saving Energy, Saving Lives: The Health Impacts of Avoiding Power Plant Pollution with Energy Efficiency

Abstract: Pollution from power plants harms public health, contributing to heart attacks, respiratory conditions, asthma attacks, and premature death. Energy efficiency can benefit health by reducing power plant pollution. This report estimates the health and environmental benefits that would come from a nationwide 15% reduction in annual electric consumption. We present results nationally, for states, and for the 50 largest US cities. We go on to describe some of the ways these results might be achieved and how efficiency programs and policies can be designed to maximize public health benefits.

Download report

Energy system/security impacts

April 12, 2018April 23, 2018 Johannes Thema

COMBI: Avoidable: More than 250 TWh electricity generation and 10 bn€ investments in combustion plants.

COMBI quantifications are annual impacts in the year 2030, that result from energy efficiency actions throughout Europe leading to energy savings of about 8% relative to a reference scenario.

For analysing efficiency impacts on the energy system and energy security, the dedicated COMBI energy balance model was developed and applied. A number of relevant indicators were quantified:

Energy intensity is reduced up to 22 kgoe/1000€ GDP
The COMBI HHI index measuring energy security through import dependency, diversification of energy sources and geographical diversification improves by up to 5%
Avoided generation of power from combustibles-based power plants amounts to 257 TWh in the EU and
avoided investments to these power plants to around 10bn €.

De-rated reserve capacity rate (defined as the reserve capacity of the power sector, divided by its total installed capacity, multiplied by 100) improves in almost all EU countries.

More details and full quantification report

Macro-economic impacts

April 12, 2018April 23, 2018 Johannes Thema

COMBI: Up to 1% of GDP, 2.3mn job-years and lower fossil fuel prices.

COMBI quantifications are annual impacts in the year 2030, that result from energy efficiency actions throughout Europe leading to energy savings of about 8% relative to a reference scenario.

Macro-economic impacts are quantified using two modelling approaches: input-output modelling for short-term (business cycle) effects and CGE modelling for long-term/structural effects. As also seen in other modelling (e.g. EU-COM impact assessment of EED), these models give a range of possible outcomes.

In the short run, the positive macro-economic stimulus is substantial; we estimate 0.9 per cent of EU’s GDP and a positive effect on the labour market of about 2.3 mn job-years. However, this stimulus will only materialise in countries with idle resources in 2030 that can support further growth (negative output gap, situation of economic downturn). In 2018, about half of the EU28 Member States are expected to have a negative output gap.

In the long run, CGE (Computable General Equilibrium) modelling does not show significant impacts on employment and even slightly negative impacts on GDP. However, energy efficiency will still lead to a reduction in CO2 emissions and significantly lowered carbon allowance and fossil fuel prices, which, given all EU countries are net fossil fuel importers will also improve their terms of trade.

More details and full quantification report