energy efficiency, ids, f. reul, 6.2.20121 energy efficiency views of the german confederation of...
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Energy Efficiency, IDS, F. Reul, 6.2.2012 1
Energy Efficiency
Views of the German Confederation of Trade Unions Lunch debate on the employment potential of the Directive for Energy Efficiency, Brussels, 7 February 2012, 12:00 – 14:30
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Energy efficiency – an issue for European trade unions
• ETUC Resoulution on EU position at Durban (October 2011) – „Low carbon society“: Paradigm shift towards a low carbon
society needed – substantial opportunities, growth, decent jobs and sustainable development
– To stimulate sustainable growth in Europe, increased ambition beyond BAU scenarios is necessary (ambitious climate targets, decisive leadership on climate and energy policies)
– Adoption of EU and national targets on energy efficiency and energy savings of at least -20% by 2020 needed - underpinned by
• energy efficiency programmes targeting industries, the renovation of buildings, transport systems
• Development of renewable energies, R&D, CHP etc. – Further prerequisites: sustainable way of production and
consumption, a sustainable lifestyle
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Energy efficiency – an issue for German trade unions
• Point of view DGB– We welcome and support the transformation of Germany's energy
system (move towards renewables, nuclear phase out by 2022 and energy efficiency)
• Energy efficiency is a key field of action. High feasibility is given: Most energy services can be supplied with considerably less energy input / in a much more efficient way
– Securing a reliable and economically viable energy supply is one of the great challenges of the 21st century. Renewable energies and energy efficiency are the key to a secure and affordable energy supply
– A competitive low carbon economy is needed, therefore ambitious reduction targets have to be determined – on European and national level
– Energy transformation is a unique opportunity to show how competitiveness can be combined with sustainable development in a leading industrial nation. It is also a fundamental ethical and cultural decision -> lively debate is going on
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Energy efficiency – Germany's goals
• “Energiewende”: Goals of Germany's Energy Policy by 2020– Climate-damaging greenhouse gas emissions are to be reduced
by 40% • and by 80 to 95% by 2050
– Primary energy consumption is to fall by 20%– Electricity consumption is to fall by 10%– Heat demand in buildings is to be reduced by 20%
• Further targets and related measures: – Around one million people working in energy-intensive industries,
a vital role in Germany's economy. For electricity-intensive companies comprehensive provisions are given to balance higher electricity prices
– Energy efficient buildings: From 2012 to 2014, funding for the “CO2 Building Rehabilitation Programme” will be raised to 1.5 billion euros per year (2011: 936 million euros).
– To guarantee affordable electricity prices, renewables must evolve from a niche market into a volume market
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Energy efficiency – Positive effects
In order to achieve emission reduction targets it is imperative that we significantly raise energy efficiency in all sectors. • Positive effects of energy efficiency
– improves security of supply by saved energy (required amount of energy decreases more capacities available)
– brings companies forward increase of investments, more profitability and competitiveness
– saves jobs: Save energy - not jobs and know-how – keeps the money in the region more jobs, new technologies
and a demand side management instead of expensive fossil fuel imports
– contributes to affordable energy – for industry and consumers• the cheapest energy is the one we don’t consume• expansion of energy supply is costly and will take some time.
Increasing energy efficiency curbs energy prices and lessens dependency on energy imports
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Energy efficiency – Current studies advocate for it
EU´s Greenhouse gas reduction targets and related effects• Study: “A New Growth Path for Europe”, commissioned by the Federal Environment Ministry, conducted by PIK (2011):
– increasing the EU´s 2020 greenhouse gas reduction target from 20% to 30%. This opens the way toward higher growth and increased employment. Under business as usual it will be hard to reach this: The 20% target has become too weak to mobilize innovations.
– Substantial investments required. Areas: insulating houses, building wind turbines, implementing CHP, modernizing the power grid etc.
– Europe's role in the global economy: Supplier of high-quality products. Higher investments trigger higher “learning by doing” (continuous product improvements) and reduced unit costs. Costs in Europe should not depend on low wages.
– PIK: Climate protection policy not only generates impetus for greater economic growth, but can also create 6 million additional jobs across Europe by 2020
– The problem is not a lack of measures, but the lack of thrust of those measures. This needs to be provided at the European level.
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Energy efficiency – Current studies advocate for it
Ambitious energy efficiency measures and related effects Ifeu Study (2011): • Enormous potential regarding energy efficiency available • Energy efficiency leads to new jobs, mechanisms:
Energy is substituted by capital / investments for energy savings – More investments in energy efficiency create new jobs– More investments means more innovations and more export -
leading again to more investments in innovations– More energy efficiency means lower costs for energy and more
purchasing power – leading to more investments (currently 11% of all imports are energy imports)
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Energy efficiency – Current studies advocate for it
Ambitious energy efficiency measures and related effects Ifeu Study (2011): • Ifeu scenario for the year 2020:
– “ambitious efficiency” (ambitious goals and efficiency programmes and measures in all areas):
• Further efficiency measures (in comparison to a reference scenario which includes the “normal” efficiency development) will bring 260.000 additional jobs by 2020
Additional jobs and CO2 emissions in the “ambitious efficiency scenario”
Employees
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Energy efficiency - innovative solutions show the potential
Energy efficiency in the industry: Examples of the “German innovation award for climate and environment” (IKU, award by FM for the Environment and Fed. of Industries)
• Award for outstanding innovations from industry and research• To learn how to combine economic growth with resource management http://www.iku-innovationspreis.de/Examples:• “Celitement”: development of climate-friendly cement
– Cement produced at temperatures of 200 degree Celsius – Requires only half of the energy, produces half of the CO2,
uses up to two thirds less lime stone• Zenergy Power GmbH: new design for the aluminium processing
– Requires only half of the energy in comparison to conventional manufacturing processes
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Energy efficiency – big issue in Germany
Germany: • Campaign for the EU directive: The energy transformation needs ambitious energy efficiency targets! • Environment minister: for• Minister of economics: against• Decision within the next days
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Energy efficiency – an issue for German trade unions
Energy efficiency – Conclusions: • More energy efficiency is a move in the right direction, for this concrete measures and ambitious targets are necessary.• Energy efficiency is leading to investments, innovations, new technologies, products and services. That will lead to industrial progress, economic growth and more jobs. It will strengthen Europe's competitiveness.• Energy efficiency reduces energy demand and energy imports. It makes a significant contribution to security of energy supply. • We advocate for clear objectives such as stringent energy efficiency standards and the renovation of the entire building stock. • It is time for boldness: Clear policies associated with ambitious targets can be doubly beneficial for the climate and EU´s economy.
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Energy efficiency – an issue for German trade unions
DGB:http://www.dgb.de/ETUC:http://www.etuc.org/PIK: http://edoc.gfz-potsdam.de/pik/get/4813/0/2bbb2541f5e08c473dd1a087176b3b49/4813.pdfIfeu:http://www.ifeu.de/index.php?bereich=ene&seite=klimaschutzinitiative