Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
the member states
ciency upgrades and
increased generation from renewable sources. The directive also serves as a road-
map to reach international greenhouse gas emissions reductions targets that need to
be attained in order to avoid disastrous impacts due to climate change. Additionally,
the directive points out that, by supporting the development of energy ef
'
energy supplies through energy ef
cient
technologies, the European Community will become more innovative and com-
petitive on the global stage. Our analysis focuses on the measures relating to
increasing the availability and demand for energy services.
Each member state is responsible for enacting the appropriate legislation to carry
out the objectives of the directive. The primary piece of legislation designed to
achieve these objectives in Spain is the
“
Sustainable Economy Law
”
,
Royal Decree
Law 6/2010
[
23
]. The law has a speci
c section dedicated to the promotion of the
ESCO market, which outlines measures consistent with the aforementioned EU
directive. Unfortunately, as can be seen in the following summary table, interview
respondents from both public and private entities recognize that the Spanish
authorities have been ineffective in carrying out the European Commission
'
s sug-
gestions (Table
1
).
The insuf
cient compliance of these framework measures to establish a healthy
ESCO market mainly stems from the negative impacts of the
nancial crisis which
have drastically restricted public budgets and redirected resources. Notwithstand-
ing, the majority of respondents believe that an adequate framework could be in
place if only the state would carry out the currently established Royal Decree laws.
Table 1 Summary of Spain
'
s compliance with ESCO-related legislation
EU Directive 2006/32/EC recommendations for ESCO market
development
Level of compliance
in Spain
Establish funds to subsidize ECE programs and promote the devel-
opment of a market for energy services (including start-up funding)
Insuf
cient
Exchange of information and best practices with other member states
Insuf
cient
Ensure the availability of high-quality energy audits
Insufcient
Stimulate the use of third-party
nancing arrangements
Insuf
cient
Ensure availability of quali
cation, accreditation and certi
cation
schemes for providers of energy services and energy audits
Insuf
cient
Ensure a level playing eld for market actors (other than energy
distributors, distribution system operators and retail energy sales
companies), such as ESCOs, to independently offer and implement
energy services, energy audits and energy ef
ciency improvements
Insufcient
Repeal or amend legislation that restricts the use of nancial
instruments for energy savings projects
Insufcient
Source
Prepared in-house based on EU Directive 2006/32/EC, Royal Decree Law 6/2010 and
interview responses
Search WWH ::
Custom Search