40 I. RØPKE ET AL.
Equally, a missing focus on energy savings is reflected in the lack of
measures to reduce energy use in existing buildings. New buildings are
constructed to high energy standards, but there is significant potential
for energy renovation of the older housing stock, which would be a relatively cheap way to reduce carbon emissions (Klimarådet 2017). The
need for thermal improvement of the existing housing stock can partly
be seen as a paradoxical result of the previous success with CHP, which
ensured cheap heating for many years (recently, some plants have had
to raise prices because the increasing electricity production from wind
reduces the demand for electricity from CHP plants and thus increases
the price of heating).
The relatively high share of wind power in the electricity system
and growing prospects of electrification of heating and transport call
for preparations of the energy system for more flexibility. Since 2010,
smart grid solutions and flexible demand have attracted much interest,
involving research and experiments. The smart grid concept concentrates on the electricity system, but it is increasingly acknowledged that a
low carbon transition must involve the coevolution of several other systems. The discourse thus tends to change towards smart energy systems
(Lunde et al. 2016).
the roLe of househoLDs
in the Low Carbon transition
For a long time, households have had access to various subsidies for retrofits, installation of solar panels and replacement of oil burners with
heat pumps. Some subsidies are still available, for instance, mediated
through the electricity distribution companies, 4 but the present level
is low. The support for solar panels has been characterized by stop-go
policies, as the impacts and expenses have been difficult to predict. The
Energy Agency runs a webpage with advice on energy savings, renovation, subsidies, etc., 5 but in practice, it does not appear to be a high
priority for the state to involve households actively in the transition.
Households are mostly seen as passive consumers that can be motivated
4 https://efkm.dk/aktuelt/nyheder/2016/dec/ny-energispareaftale-paa-plads/.
5 https://sparenergi.dk/.
Equally, a missing focus on energy savings is reflected in the lack of
measures to reduce energy use in existing buildings. New buildings are
constructed to high energy standards, but there is significant potential
for energy renovation of the older housing stock, which would be a relatively cheap way to reduce carbon emissions (Klimarådet 2017). The
need for thermal improvement of the existing housing stock can partly
be seen as a paradoxical result of the previous success with CHP, which
ensured cheap heating for many years (recently, some plants have had
to raise prices because the increasing electricity production from wind
reduces the demand for electricity from CHP plants and thus increases
the price of heating).
The relatively high share of wind power in the electricity system
and growing prospects of electrification of heating and transport call
for preparations of the energy system for more flexibility. Since 2010,
smart grid solutions and flexible demand have attracted much interest,
involving research and experiments. The smart grid concept concentrates on the electricity system, but it is increasingly acknowledged that a
low carbon transition must involve the coevolution of several other systems. The discourse thus tends to change towards smart energy systems
(Lunde et al. 2016).
the roLe of househoLDs
in the Low Carbon transition
For a long time, households have had access to various subsidies for retrofits, installation of solar panels and replacement of oil burners with
heat pumps. Some subsidies are still available, for instance, mediated
through the electricity distribution companies, 4 but the present level
is low. The support for solar panels has been characterized by stop-go
policies, as the impacts and expenses have been difficult to predict. The
Energy Agency runs a webpage with advice on energy savings, renovation, subsidies, etc., 5 but in practice, it does not appear to be a high
priority for the state to involve households actively in the transition.
Households are mostly seen as passive consumers that can be motivated
4 https://efkm.dk/aktuelt/nyheder/2016/dec/ny-energispareaftale-paa-plads/.
5 https://sparenergi.dk/.