Status of Energy Efficiency in the Western Balkans : A Stocktaking Report
Across the Western Balkan region, countries exhibit relatively high levels of energy intensity, a high energy savings potential among energy end-users, and heavy dependence on imported hydrocarbons. Energy markets would benefit from enhanced demand...
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| Format: | Energy Study |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
World Bank
2012
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| Online Access: | http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000334955_20101026030914 http://hdl.handle.net/10986/2918 |
| Summary: | Across the Western Balkan region,
countries exhibit relatively high levels of energy
intensity, a high energy savings potential among energy
end-users, and heavy dependence on imported hydrocarbons.
Energy markets would benefit from enhanced demand-side
efforts and integrated energy efficiency measures across all
sectors. Since most energy infrastructure was built during
the 1960s and 1970s, inadequately maintained since the
1990s, and reaching the end of its useful lifespan, now is a
crucial time to consider the way forward in the energy
sector. The signing of the Energy Community Treaty in 2003
marked the beginning of systematic energy sector
liberalization among Western Balkan countries, allowing them
to deal with widespread energy sector problems that
included, on the demand side, low energy tariffs, lack of
payment discipline and, hence, little incentive for energy
users to invest in energy efficiency measures. Building each
component of the strong enabling environment required for
increased Energy Efficiency (EE) across the Western Balkan
countries will need cooperation among decision makers at
multiple government levels, and capital investment by
stakeholders to support projects that use energy more
rationally. Investors are attracted to opportunities where a
strong national government role and clear regulatory
structures help dismantle barriers, establish clear
conditions and standards, provide technical information, and
facilitate funding for EE technologies. This study examines
the status of the enabling environment for demand-side EE
across the .Western Balkans, evaluates developments in each
country, and offers recommendations on the way forward. |
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