K u rzfassu n g sb an d - Graz University of Technology

Energieinnovation 2006 3
1.1.2 „Towards sustainability of energy systems: how to optimise
the provision of energy services from society's point-of-view”
Nebojsa Nakicenovic, Reinhard Haas (TU-Wien/Energy Economics
Group) 1
Introduction
The volume and the capability of a society depends heavily on the availability of energy to provide
energy services. Yet, the availability of energy is limited by scarce resources and/or environmental
constraints.
The major purpose of this paper is to present some fundamental reflections on this issue and to
discuss basic concepts for bringing about a sustainable development for energy’s contribution to
economies/societies. This should ensure that energy is used in a way which maximises the benefit for
society in a dynamic framework.
Method of approach
We start with the hypothesis that the whole economic activities usually summarised e.g as a GDP can
be interpreted as the aggregate of the monetary value of all services created in a society (regardless
whether we consider these services as useful or valuable or not). Energy services are in general
provided by using four inputs:
S=f(e, η(T), h, CO2)
with:
e….energy
η(T)….efficiency of technology
CO2… Environment
h ….human capital
We differ between direct energy services (e.g. heat, mobility) and indirect energy services (clothes,
furniture, paper…).and consider life-cycle balances for technologies
Of course, as history has shown there is a wide range of possibilities of substitution between the
different inputs. Of special interest is the aspect of increasing efficiency to reduce the necessary input
of energy.
This issue must be analysed from the following points-of-view
• How can limited resources be used optimal over time
• How can the resulting energy be used in an optimal way to produce the maximum output
(or in other words: What is the optimal mix of technological and energy input given a
certain scarcity of resources, a certain cost of depletion of energy for society)
Based on these basic reflections the questions finally, discussed in this paper are:
• What are the drivers and slowers of energy service demand (including the analysis of
intensities, income, energy price and efficiency)
• How must the development of these drivers be changed to head towards sustainability
• And how can, finally, ideal long-term governmental policies contribute to bring about this
solution
1 Energy Economics Group, Vienna University of Technology, Gusshausstrasse 27-29/373-2,
A-1040 Vienna, Tel. ++43-1-58801-37352; e-mail: Reinhard.Haas@tuwien.ac.at;