Legal aspects of the use of bioenergy in the European Union

The article explores the features of the legal regulation of bioenergy in the European Union, analyses the concepts of bioenergy and biofuels in Ukrainian and European legislation and highlights the main provisions of the European Union Directives, concerning the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources, including biomass. In particular, bioenergy has been identified in the EU as the leading source of renewable energy for heating and cooling (88 per cent of all RES), representing 16 per cent of the total European final energy consumption in this sector. Consequently, in view of the demand for and the need to use such a resource, the EU legislative framework contains a number of principles (bases) and mandates for regulating the relationship in the area of manufacturing, handling and decontamination of waste biofuels as a primary feedstock for bioenergy. In particular, the fundamental principles of the EU bioenergy legislation are, first, the principle of sustainable production and consumption of biomass, and second, the prevention of reduction of negative impacts from the use of this resource, Third, increasing the share of alternative energy sources to 75 % of final energy consumption by 2050. Keywords: bioenergy, permanence, alternative energy sources, biofuels

The environmental and resource productivity as the key element of green economy in EU

The purpose of this study was to analyze the indicators of environmental and resource productivity of European countries to identify leaders and outsiders and study their trends over recent decades. The results of the analysis showed that the indicators are characterized by uneven development, due to the characteristics of countries and their green policies. The key indicators of the Europe 2020 policy have been used for the analysis, namely resource productivity, greenhouse gas emissions per capita, recycling rate of municipal waste, eco-innovation index, final energy consumption in households. Linear trends for the period 1995-2019 with indication of trend equations were constructed for each indicator. The slope of the functions has been analyzed in order to identify the dynamics of trends. According to the results of the analysis, all indicators except greenhouse gas emissions per capita were characterized by positive dynamics, ie increased. It has been determined that the problematic indicator for EU countries is final energy consumption in households, which requires further detailed research.

Implementation of the 2030 sustainable development goals - affordable and clean energy in the European Union

One of the most important goals of the European Union is to provide citizens of the Member States security and stability in fuel and electricity sectors. The United Nations has defined 17 goals and 169 actions to achieve sustainable development of the world. The goals were to improve the quality of life, reduce the level of poverty, inequalities in the world and sustainable development in terms of climate and environmental protection. The article presents an analysis of the implementation of one of the assumed goals, i.e., sustainable development in the field of Affordable and clean Energy in the European Union. This goal is to ensure that every citizen has access to stable, sustainable, and modern energy at an affordable price. Among others, indicators such as energy import dependency, energy productivity, share of renewable energy in gross final energy consumption, final energy consumption in households per capita were analysed. The authors analysed the trends of the above-mentioned indicators in the European Union, with particular emphasis on Poland. In order to be able to predict how the analysed phenomena will develop until 2030, the authors built forecasts. For this purpose, among others, ARIMA models were used. The authors created several dozen models, from among which model with the smallest ex post errors and the lowest value of information criteria were selected. The models allowed to determine the degree of achievement of the set goals. They also allowed the designation of scenarios for the potential development of the analysed indicators.

Actual energy savings of more than 1000 renovated buildings in Geneva

This study quantifies the annual energy-related retrofit rate of the Geneva building stock (1.7%), based on data concerning the delivered construction permits over the 2010 – 2018 period. By cross-cutting with final energy demand before and after retrofit, we derive an energy-efficient retrofit rate (0.6% for an improvement of 1 class at least, 0.2% for 2 classes at least). Results are analysed as a function of the construction period, as well as of the energy demand before retrofit.

Implementation of the 2030 sustainable development goals - affordable and clean energy in Poland

One of the most serious challenges facing the world, including the European Union and Poland, is the climate crisis and environmental pollution. The article presents an analysis of the implementation of sustainable development goals in the field of Affordable and clean Energy in Poland. The Sustainable Development Goals have replaced the Millennium Goals and enable their continuation. They were defined at the United Nations Conference in 2012. 17 goals and 169 actions were set. Sustainable Development Goals are a set of activities, the implementation of which is to lead to the development of sustainable development in the environmental, social and economic terms. Achieving the goals will be possible among others through changes in the field of climate, education, poverty or the natural environment. The study analyses, inter alia, such indicators related to the discussed objectives like energy import dependency by products, energy productivity, share of renewable energy in gross final energy consumption by sector, final energy consumption in households per capita were analysed. This made it possible to indicate the level of achievement of the set goals, as well as to determine the possibility of achieving the goals set by 2030. The authors also presented the results of the generated for the analysed indicators forecasts. The presented results were obtained with the use of mathematical models, which were finally selected by the authors after the validation process. The time horizon of the forecasts was adjusted to the requirements of sustainable development goals. Countermeasures that can be taken to accelerate the deadline for achieving the targets were also outlined.

Analysis of Energy Consumption and Energy Efficiency in Government Office Buildings of Bengkulu, Indonesia

This article aimed to analyze the energy consumption and energy efficiency in government office buildings of Bengkulu, Indonesia. This research was conducted using a quantitative descriptive method. The research step begins by observing the initial conditions of Energy Consumption Intensity (ECI) to determine the category of buildings that are efficient or not in terms of energy use, then collecting data on the profile of the use of the building and its rooms, recapitulation of the use of energy sources (both electrical energy and other chemical energy), a list of equipment that consumes electrical energy (lighting, air conditioning, and others). Furthermore, measuring the performance of systems and equipment that consumes energy and conducting efficiency analysis to then make recommendations with operating settings, to replace inefficient equipment with more efficient equipment. The final step is to draw conclusions about the final Energy Consumption Intensity (ECI) obtained based on the results of the analysis and recommendations obtained on the previous Energy Consumption Intensity (ECI) value. It can be concluded that the final Energy Consumption Intensity (ECI) of government office buildings of Bengkulu based on the results of the analysis and recommendations such as performing preventive maintenance on air conditioners, the temperature of the air conditioner is set to always be at 24°C, replacing the type of lamp in the artificial lighting system that still uses TLD lamps with LED lamps, and efforts in organizing energy management systems will decrease around 13 percent from the previous Energy Consumption Intensity (ECI) or down from 40.9 kWh/m2/year to be 35.6 kWh/m2/year.

Assessing Energy Descent Scenarios for the Ecological Transition in Spain 2020–2030

A global energy consumption reduction is essential to address the many dimensions of the current ecological crisis. In this paper we have compiled the reasons that justify the necessity to start this energy descent process in the countries of the global North, where the annual per capita final energy consumption was 118 GJ in 2017. Based on recent research, we approach the necessary redistribution of energy consumption at the global level and the elements that should be present in energy descent strategies. We establish an approximate threshold of minimum and maximum per capita final energy consumption, between 15.6 GJ and 31.0 GJ for the year 2050, which serves as a reference for evaluating scenarios. We continue with an analysis of two ecological transition scenarios for Spain between 2020 and 2030, Green New Deal and Degrowth. Based on a schematic calculation model defined in “Labor Scenarios in the Ecosocial Transition 2020–2030” report, we evaluate the variations in energy consumption for 86 sectors of economic activity. Results show an annual final energy consumption per capita in 2030 of 44.6 GJ and 36.8 GJ for each scenario. We conclude by analyzing the hypothetical main drivers of this sharp decline in energy consumption.

From using heat to using work: reconceptualising the zero carbon energy transition

Recent evidence indicates that the key sources of energy for the zero carbon transition will be renewable electricity sources. The most rapidly expanding sources, photovoltaics and wind produce work, as electricity, directly rather than via heat engines. Making the assumption that these will be the dominant sources of energy in a future zero carbon system, the paper makes two new related and innovative contributions to the literature on the energy transition. First, it shows that the energy transition will be more than just a shift away from carbonaceous fuels, and that it is more usefully thought of as including a systemic shift from heat-producing to work-producing energy sources. Secondly, it shows that this enables very large improvements in the conversion efficiency of final energy, through the use of electricity and hydrogen, in particular in heating and transportation. The paper presents a thought experiment showing a reduction in final energy demand of up to 40% is likely from this effect alone. Technical standards and product regulation for end use conversion efficiency and/or service delivery efficiency seem likely to be key policy instruments.

Possibilities of Upgrading Warsaw Existing Residential Area to Status of Positive Energy Districts

This paper analyses possibilities of refurbishment of Warsaw’s residential buildings towards standards of the Positive Energy District. The annual final energy consumption in the city in 2019 for the district heating was 8668 GWh, gas (pipelines) was 5300 GWh, electricity from the grid was 7500 GWh, while the emission of the carbon dioxide was 5.62 × 109 kg. The city consists of 18 districts, which are heterogeneous in terms of typology and structure of buildings. The great variety of buildings can be seen, for example, by the annual final energy demand for space heating and hot water preparation per unit of room area. This annual index ranges from over 400 kWh/m2 in historic buildings to 60 kWh/m2 in modern buildings. A reduction in the consumption of non-renewable energy sources and carbon dioxide emissions can be achieved by improving the energy standard of residential buildings and by using renewable energy sources: solar energy, geothermal energy and biogas. The potential barriers for achieving the status of a positive energy district, for example, problems connected with ownership, financing new investments and refurbishment and legal boundaries, have been identified. Moreover, changing the existing electrical grid and district heating systems in urban areas in Warsaw requires comprehensive modernization of practically the entire city’s infrastructure.