ENSPOL - Stockholm Environment Institute, University of York

The Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) requires each Member States (MS) to apply an energy efficiency obligation scheme (EEOs) or alternative policy measures that would deliver a certain amount of end-use energy savings over the 2014-2020 obligation period.

The ENSPOL project has identified two main barriers to the introduction of new EEOs and alternative policy measures:

the complexity of setting them up; and
the range of different approaches already implemented in different EU MS (and beyond), which MS must fully understand before they can make informed decisions about how to design/optimize their own solutions or schemes.

In order for MS to design and implement robust new EEOs and / or implement appropriate alternative policy measures with positive synergies to EEOs in an optimal policy mix it is fundamental that they have a good knowledge of the market and important that they understand how technologies, regions, national targets, obliged parties and key stakeholders can be affected in different ways depending on the solution/s implemented. It is therefore vital that MS ensure their selected solution/s are tailored to the national context and aligned with existing incentive schemes and policies.

The ENSPOL project's main aim is to support MS who intend to set up new EEO schemes (Austria, Bulgaria and Greece) or implement alternative measures (The Netherlands) that could create synergies with a future EEO, as well as inform the on-going development of existing schemes (Belgium, Denmark, France, Italy, Poland, UK), and support MS with an existing EEO scheme to improve it, learning from and building on existing experiences. The specific objectives of ENSPOL are to:

1. Assess the relative strengths and weaknesses of EEOs and alternative measures based on the existing experiences and plans of MS and make recommendations for the most appropriate approaches against different criteria and under different conditions

2. Improve the knowledge and capabilities of MS (both within and outside of the project) with regards to the different options available for implementation of Article 7 (EEOs and alternative measures)

3. Ensure the effective engagement of the broad range of stakeholders with an interest in the implementation of Article 7 and promote a wide consultation

4. Complement and enhance the work of existing EU and MS initiatives concerned with the implementation of Article 7 EED

ENSPOL will develop detailed guidelines, tailored to national circumstances and, by ensuring carefully planned and well managed stakeholder engagement activities, will successfully deliver a comprehensive package of support to MS, ensuring effective knowledge transfer and capacity building in project partner countries.

The project will build on traditional methods (conferences, workshops, newsletters etc.) by using more innovative approaches such as "train the trainer" for policymakers, the establishing of permanent observatories both at EU and national level and the creation of a one-stop-shop- a web based stakeholder platform where MS can easily access information and guidance on all issues relating to the implementation of Article 7.

MS with EEO and/or White Certificate schemes will also benefit from ENSPOL, as they can incorporate lessons learned from other MS or policies to their schemes, and through a process of continual improvement they can ensure that their schemes will deliver the maximum impact.‌

Outside of the project consortium, non-participating countries will also benefit through EU level stakeholder engagement activities which aim to establish cooperation with key initiatives such as the European Energy Network from early on in the project.

Further information on the ENSPOL website