Sustainable Development and Innovation in the Energy Sector (eBook)

Preface to the Translation 5
Preface 6
Table of Contents 8
Summary 12
Introduction 12
Terminological and conceptional foundations 12
Normative evaluation and decision criteria 15
Towards a sustainable energy system – deficits and points of reference 17
Potentials and barriers for a sustainable energy system 19
The reality of sustainability: Conflicts of aims in the choice of instruments 21
Strategies to accelerate energy innovations 23
Political enforceability of sustainable energy innovations 25
Responsibility for the “energy hunger” of the developing countries – How can sustainable energy innovations help here? 27
1 Problem Definition, Tasks, Procedure and Derivation of Recommendations for Action 28
1.1 Problem definition 28
1.2 Tasks of the working group 28
1.3 Deriving recommendations for action 30
1.4 Structure of the study 31
2 Terminological and Conceptional Foundations 34
2.1 Sustainability and sustainable development 34
2.2 Sustainability and energy 41
2.3 Innovation and sustainability 45
3 Normative Criteria for Evaluation and Decision- Making 61
3.1 Risk assessment and recommendations for action 61
3.2 Sustainable development and justice 65
3.3 Efficiency and sufficiency – discussing sustainability in theoretical and practical terms 71
3.4 Interim conclusions 72
4 Towards a Sustainable Energy System – Legal Basis, Deficits and Points of Reference 74
4.1 Fundamental legal standards for a sustainable energy system 74
4.2 Evaluation of the global energy system under criteria of sustainability 90
4.3 Reference points for the sustainable supply of energy on a global scale 108
5 Potentials for the Sustainable Development of Energy Systems 114
5.1 Introduction 114
5.2 Technical energy efficiency improvement 115
5.3 Renewable energy sources 121
5.4 Imagining the future: possible developments and effects 126
5.5 Conclusions: What can be learned from history? 133
6 The Reality of Sustainability: Conflicts of Aims in the Choice of Instruments 137
6.2 Environmental protection versus economic and social aims 139
6.3 Standards arising from European law for weighing conflicting aims 149
6.4 Energy-relevant research and technology policies of the European Union 157
7 Strategies for Accelerating Sustainable Energy Innovations 162
7.1 Reinstating energy as a strategic priority 162
7.2 Improving the framework conditions 165
7.3 Action field energy efficiency in industry: Accelerated market introduction through subsidies 168
7.4 Action field energy efficiency in industry: Self- commitments as an instrument for the rapid diffusion of the “ best available technology“ 180
7.5 Technology Procurement 183
7.6 Action field energy efficiency in households 185
7.7 Action field transport: Only “packages” can produce innovations 192
7.8 Regenerative energy sources 194
8 Implementation Problems of a Sustainable Innovation Strategy 199
8.1 Actors in the “sustainability arena” 199
8.2 The attractiveness of sustainability goals from the perspective of selected actor groups 199
8.3 Instruments and their attraction from the perspective of selected actor groups 206
8.4 Starting points for improving the chances for successful implementation 209
8.5 Conclusions and perspectives: an Alliance for Sustainable Energy Innovations 212
9 Responsibility for the “Energy Hunger” of the Developing Countries – How Sustainable Energy Innovations Can Help 216
9.1 Basic considerations 216
9.2 Reorientation of development co-operation in the energy sector 217
9.3 Existing initiatives for sustainable energy innovations 219
9.4 What can be done by the EU? 222
9.5 Global enterprises and “Technology Sharing” 223
9.6 Outlook and further research issues 226
Appendix 1 The global energy system 227
A. Development of the global use of energy 227
B. Energy production and use in the EU 228
C. Energy scenarios 229
Appendix 2 Unemployment 236
A.2.1 Elasticity issues in efficiency wage models 236
A.2.2 Elasticity issues in negotiation models 242
Appendix 3 Energy- relevant science and technology policies of the European Union – an overview 244
A.3.1 Importance and integration of sustainability aspects in European energy policies 244
A.3.2 Overview of energy-relevant RTD programs of the European Union 245
A.3.3 The research priorities “Energy” and “Transport” in the 6th RTD framework program 248
A.3.4 Specific programs and instruments 252
A.3.5 Conclusion and outlook 252
Bibliography 254
List of abbreviations 265
List of Authors 266