Publications

Biofuels Baseline 2008

The European Union promotes the use of biofuels and other renewable energy in transport. In April 2009, the Renewable Energy Directive was adopted, setting a 10% target for renewable energy in transport by 2020 and defining requirements to the sustainability...

Biofuel potential for shipping

Biofuels could be one of the options to realize a lower carbon intensity in the propulsion of ships and also possibly reduce the effect of ship emissions on local air quality. By order of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), Ecofys investigated the...

International biodiesel markets

This study compiled on behalf of the association for the promotion of oil and protein-bearing plants (UFOP) assesses the current situation of the international biodiesel markets which have grown tremendously over the past decade. To a large extent,...

Effective renewable energy support policies in the EU

The thesis explores how EU member state governments can improve the effectiveness and cost efficiency of their renewable energy support policies. The analysis shows that some top runner countries apply very successful and fine-tuned support policies, while...

Principles for nearly Zero-Energy Buildings

The European Union aims at drastic reductions in domestic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of 80% by 2050 compared to 1990 levels. The building stock is responsible for a major share of GHG emissions and should achieve even higher reductions.

The...

Use of heat pumps to provide flexibility to power systems

In this project for the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, we assessed the potential for flexibility that a building stock equipped with heat pumps can offer to power systems with significant penetration of wind power.  The thermal...

EU Climate Policy Tracker

The EU Climate Policy Tracker (EU CPT) presents up-to-date developments in climate and energy policies in the EU-27. Although government policy is the single most influential driver behind the fight against climate change, there is limited information about...

RE-Shaping: Towards triple-A policies - More renewable energy at lower cost

Support policy cost for renewable electricity projects can be reduced by about 10% or €4billion/year in the EU and up to 50% for specific Member States and technologies. This can be done while improving the investment climate for project developers...

Climate Action Tracker - Country Report Australia

Australia’s latest climate legislation is a substantial step in the right direction, but is still not stringent enough to help the world keep global warming to below 2°C, according to this report by Climate Analytics and Ecofys.

The 150-page...

Annual Status Report on NAMAs

Ecofys, the Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN), and the Centre for Clean Air Policy (CCAP) issued the first Annual Status Report on Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs).

Since the birth of the NAMA concept back in Bali...

UNEP Bridging the Emissions Gap

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the European Climate Foundation (ECF) commissioned Ecofys to coordinate the delivery of its 2011 ‘Bridging the Emissions Gap’ report. As a follow-up to 2010 Emissions Gap Report, its objective...

Germany's path towards nearly zero-energy buildings

In 2010 the European Union adopted a Directive stipulating that by the end of 2020 Member States must ensure that all newly-constructed buildings consume ‘nearly zero’ energy. In Germany, drastic reductions of energy demand for space heating...

RE-SHAPING report on performance of renewable energy support policies in the EU-27

The report describes the status of renewable energy deployment in the EU and the efficiency and effectiveness of support policies applied by the Member States based on a series of indicators. Some of these indicators were already used by the European Commission...

Rural Energy in the EU

This report, commissioned by the FREE initiative (Future of Rural Energy in Europe), provides a wealth of information on energy demand in a variety of economic sectors in some of the...

Retrofitting of PV systems to solve 50.2 Hz problem

A study made by Ecofys and IFK on behalf of the FNN/VDE recommends the retrofitting of some solar power systems to solve the so-called 50.2-hertz problem. Until the introduction of a temporary arrangement in April 2011, generators connected to the low-voltage...

RE-SHAPING Renewable energy policy EU country profiles update

This report is an update of the country profiles that ECOFYS has produced together with national experts since 2004. They contain detailed information about policies applied in the electricity, heat and transport sector as well as deployment and potential...

Updated comparison of fossil power efficiency and CO₂ intensity

This study is an update of the analysis “International comparison of fossil power generation and CO₂ intensity”. The purpose of this study on behalf of the Mitsubishi Research Centre is to compare the energy efficiency and CO₂-intensity...

Cost optimal building performance requirements

The report "Cost optimal building performance requirements – Calculation methodology for reporting on national energy performance requirements on the basis of cost optimality within the framework of the EPBD" is intended to bring an important new...

Consistency of policy instruments.

The report provides options for how to achieve a 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, in the EU, from 1990 to 2020. The EU has agreed a set of goals (objectives) and related instruments for 2020.

The most significant objectives are the...

State of the Offshore Wind Industry in Northern Europe

The past decade has seen the realisation of the first large-scale commercial offshore wind farms. As of 2010, 3 GW of installed capacity has been commissioned and numerous lessons have been learnt; however the true growth of the industry still lies ahead....

International climate financing

This paper by Ecofys and GtripleC examines potential sources of revenues and analyses, which instruments are most compatible with these sources and the climate objectives. Ultimately, the paper provides suggestions for progress in international climate...

The Energy Report

The Energy Report presents a possible transition to a global, sustainable energy system. The two-part report contains a detailed analysis and scenario created by Ecofys, and a narrative by WWF. It addresses the fundamental question: “Is...