engleski

Measures for increasing energy efficiency of the gas sector

Energy efficiency is one of the main objectives of Clean Energy for All Europeans package due to fact that energy efficiency is the fastest and easiest way for consumers to save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Paper deals with case study of energy efficiency in Croatian natural gas sector and the possibilities for its increase. The Energy Efficiency Act and a related national legal framework is imposed on the energy supplier’s goals to achieve energy savings. Energy suppliers have three main options of fulfilling energy saving obligations: investing in energy efficiency measures, buying energy savings and paying for non-realized savings (penalties). Energy suppliers in Croatia are developing various business models for converting law-imposed obligations into a business opportunity. This process will require amending of related legislation, in particular Ordinance on the system for monitoring, measurement and verification of energy savings. This Ordinance offers 19 measures that energy suppliers could invest in. Besides the fact that proposed measures have huge difference in investment/savings ratio, main obstacle is the lack of validation of greenhouse gas emissions reduction. Natural gas suppliers are committed to invest in emission reduction or to invest in projects that can achieve energy efficiency goals in gas sector. One of the actions is promoting natural gas vehicles since the increase of alternative fuel usage, like natural gas, represents one of the goals of a new Energy Strategy. Among other options is the introduction of smart metering for gas consumers. Measures that contribute to additional energy savings in gas sector, according to the European energy policy and national regulatory framework guidelines have been proposed in this paper.

energy efficiency ; natural gas sector ; regulatory framework

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