Current tasks

Synopsis

Energy plays a central role in each of our everyday lives. We use electricity for lighting our homes and offices, for powering our fridges, ovens, televisions and computers. For most of the time we do not even think about it, it is simply there to enable us to carry on with our normal activities. However, our use of energy impacts on our environment and contributes to global warming.

The domestic and SME sectors consume up to 50% of electricity in developed countries and are attractive for the implementation of energy saving measures based on providing customers with information and also automatic/remote switching of demand.

The results are delivered from influencing millions of micro loads to save energy in the customer premises and a fast response to price and control signals from the energy markets or system services markets.

To approach consumers to integrate their energy use in a complex net of energy optimisation is a new and expensive task. Any approach should simultaneously attack all the opportunities for customers to save money and volunteer environmentally friendly behaviour [1].

Greater participation of the demand side is a very important mechanism for addressing the issues of improving overall system balance and increasing the utilisation of wind generation capacity. If end use demand can be reduced and profile shape changed for smaller and SME customers in response to financial and other stimuli, it can be used to reduce peak generation capacity and spinning reserve, enable demand participation in balancing and reserve markets and the full potential for wind generation to be exploited, particularly in off-peak times. It can also save energy and CO2 as well as money for customers.

With the growth of embedded generation, there are also strong financial motivators for local areas to become “self-balancing” in terms of local demand and local generation.

[1] ZIVIS Project (“Lend your computer to the science”) in the Spanish county of Zaragoza, where 7% of the county internet navigators have permitted the European Science Supercomputer Mare Nostrum to use their personal computers’ calculation capacity when its owner doesn’t need it. This process has advanced the work programme by 1 year.

Synopsis

Energy Contracting - also labeled as ESCo or Energy Service (ES) – is a many times proven DSM instrument to implement energy efficiency measures for lighting, HVAC-technologies or even comprehensive refurbishment of buildings. An Energy Service Company (ESCo) takes over the technical and commercial implementation and operation risks and has to guarantee for it’s cost and results. ESCo services are also well suited to implement innovative energy technologies and renewable energy systems.
In this Task experts from Austria, Belgium, Finland, India, Japan, Netherlands and Spain join forces to contribute to the market development of Energy Services by:
1. establishing an Energy Services Expert Platform,
2. designing, elaborating and testing innovative energy services and financing models and to publish them in a series of manuals,
3. developing and following up on country specific activities for implementing energy services in the market with a focus on selected market segments and
4. offering expertise and initiating joint projects and services with other international organizations (e.g., presentations, coaching and training).
Participation in Task XVI-Extension is open to 1 or 2 additional countries. For further info you may contact the operating agent Bleyl@grazer-ea.at or download a task flyer (Publications).

Synopsis

As countries implement energy policies that promote energy efficiency, distributed generation and renewable energy resources, the share of distributed energy increases, particularly the intermittent type such as wind, solar, small hydro and combined heat and power (small and micro-CHP). Due to the fact that intermittent types of electricity generation are difficult to predict, electrical networks—
both local and transmission— are turning to integrated distributed energy resource.
By combining distributed generation with energy storage and demand response,
countries can decrease problems caused by distributed generation and
increase the value of intermittent energy in the market.

The main objective of the proposed Task is to study how to achieve the optimal integration of distributed generation, energy storages and flexible demand, and thus increase the value of distributed generation and demand response and decrease problems caused by intermittent distributed generation (mainly based on RES) in the physical electricity systems and at the electricity market. The Task deals with distributed energy resources both at local (distribution network and customer) level and at transmission system level where large wind farms are connected.

The first phase of the Task is in progress with seven participating countries. It will be finished at the end of September 2008. It will produce the state-of the art of the integration and proposal for the further studies.

Synopsis

On a global basis, electricity production is estimated to contribute about 25% of the human-induced increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Creating sustainable energy systems with minimum levels of GHG emissions requires the deployment of both renewable energy and other low emission technologies on the supply side and measures that increase energy efficiency on the demand side.

The fourth IPCC Working Group III Report "Mitigation of Climate Change" identified demand side management programs as a mechanism that may be effective in reducing emissions.

Task XVIII is investigating the potential contribution to mitigating GHG emissions that can be made by demand side management measures. Task XVIII is also examining the extent to which GHG emissions mitigation measures can provide benefits to electricity systems.

Synopsis

The Task is expected to build on the achievement of Task VII. While Task VII has taken the initial step towards development of a framework for market transformation, it is necessary to evolve a comprehensive framework, which could be used by the government and industry to develop the market for energy efficient products. Specifically, need for research in the following areas was felt to be immediate:


1. Capability of Energy Efficiency suppliers in the market
2. Knowledge and attitude of private households in developing electricity markets
3. Best practices in definition of suppliers of energy efficiency products and services
4. Potential for energy efficiency products and services in other energy consuming
sectors such as agriculture, industrial and commercial, etc.
5. Potential for programmatic approach towards energy efficiency
6. Barriers to branding of energy efficiency.

Analysis of these issues is likely to throw light on the rather poor state of energy efficiency branding, which holds significant promise of transforming the market, which has not yet been penetrated by the traditional approach of sales and marketing. This could also lead to explosion of market which has not yet been visualized by the conventional products and services. While ‘Branding’ may not be the only answer to the problem of energy efficiency, it certainly is a key to development of the energy efficiency market.

Synopsis

What are the most important elements for the quantitative evaluation of the energy savings impacts of policies and measures and can these be organised in a broader agreement on the basic concepts, rules and system borders in IEA member states?

The European Commission wants to harmonise bottom-up monitoring and (in a later phase) evaluation work within the 27 Member States for reporting progress in energy efficiency improvements. The International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation (IPEEC) stimulates improvements in among others methodologies of energy measurement, auditing and verification procedures and certification protocols.

With this Task the IEA DSM Agreements wants to provide a framework of the basic concepts, rules and system borders to stimulate the development of standards on energy savings calculations and related greenhouse gas emissions one hand and ensure global comparability of these standards.

Synopsis

The primary objective of IEA DSM Task XXII, Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standards, is to develop a best practice guide for the design, development, implementation and monitoring of Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standards(EEPS).

The Task XXII work is divided into three subtasks and will be completed over twelve months once initiated in 2010. Experts from countries with EEPS programmes and countries planning to introduce EEPS programme will participate. Participation in the Task will help countries review their programmes beyond any existing boundaries and consider a broader approach. Experts will also analyse inter-linkages between EEPS schemes and other schemes, such as energy efficiency, renewable energy and emissions trading.

Participating in Task XXII is a very effective way of gaining valuable information about international experience in promoting energy efficiency measures.