Project plan summary
The project will seek to remove existing market barriers to energy efficiency through the determination of customer responses to different market based customer services of deregulated electricity markets. Load profile impacts from the introduction of competition will be studied for different customer groups, particularly with the focus on new communication solutions, variable pricing options and Smart-house technology. More specifically the objectives of the proposed action are to:
  • Establish specifications for load profiles in deregulated markets while taking into account the interaction between electricity and other energy resources.
  • Quantify the potential for peak power demand reductions in competitive electricity markets by the means of market solutions, dynamic pricing options, new technology solutions and information services.
  • Quantify the energy efficiency potential in competitive electricity markets by the means of market solutions, dynamic pricing options, new technology solutions and information services.
  • Determine which policy actions are the most efficient in removing existing barriers to energy efficiency.

The project will consist of five phases in order to achieve the goals of the project:

  • Phase 1 forms the basis for the subsequent phases. The need for load profiles in competitive markets will be mapped on a European level. Load specifications will cover different levels of load aggregation. Load drivers in different countries will be mapped to better quantify country specific potentials for load management and energy efficiency.
  • Phase 2 will analyse the impacts of deregulation on the load profiles for different customer categories and on national or regional level. Load profiles prior to and after deregulation will be compared while taking into consideration societal development that might also have had an impact.
  • Phase 3 analyses the impacts on energy consumption of interactive communication infrastructure (e.g., broadband) that facilitates a whole range of new customer services. Possibilities related to energy efficiency will be mapped.
  • Phase 4 quantifies the potential for load impacts related to Smart-house technology, dynamic tariffs and web based energy efficiency information through pilot studies.
  • Phase 5 recommends policies and tools for energy efficiency based on the former phases.