Policies and legislation at the local, national, and supranational level play a critical role in energy transition. For instance, the European Union has set 20-20-20 targets (20% penetration of renewables in the energy mix, 20% reduction in CO2 emissions, and 20% energy efficiency) to be met by 2020. These targets are split up in targets for each member state and for the EU as a whole reach. The European Commission has enacted several directives aimed at the achievement of these targets, ranging from the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources (2009/28/EC), stimulating the use of combined heat and power (92/62/EEC) and the establishment of a scheme for greenhouse gas emission trading (2009/29/EC) to carbon capture and storage pilot projects (2009/31/EC), energy efficiency measures (2006/32/EC), and smart grid initiatives. Such directives commonly lead to national legislation and decision making to ensure the appropriate measures are taken at the appropriate levels. Similar initiatives (with varying levels of ambition) are underway in other countries around the world.
The transition to a low-carbon economy is enabled by political decisions and the rules and regulations based on that. Most of the activities such as energy efficiency, construction of carbon capture and storage, or increasing the penetration of renewables in the energy mix will be undertaken on the basis of these decisions and the relevant legislation expressing the political will for energy transition. It is crucial for any research and buildup of knowledge to be conscious of the political decisions and legislation forming their foundation, as well as the background of these activities. Important drivers that affect current and future legislation include climate change, security of energy supply and affordability within national and European policy frameworks.
This component of the EDIaal project aims to collect and present the latest developments in policy and legislation related to energy transition and the role of natural gas in the low-carbon economy. Each of the other subtopics of EDIaal project have their relationship with policy and legislation and the latest developments will be presented with these considerations in mind.
The following reports contain the latest information in the areas mentioned above:
Sound Energy Policy for Europe: Pragmatic pathways to a low-carbon economy - IHS CERA
Energierapport 2011 (in Dutch) - Government of the Netherlands
20 20 by 2020 Europe's climate change opportunity - European Commission
Renewable Energy Policy Considerations for Deploying Renewables - IEA
See for additional information the publication database.
