White Certificate Schemes and their Role in Promoting Motor Systems Efficiency

Recently a number of countries have introduced market-based instruments to foster energy efficiency improvements. Some of these schemes are based on quantified energy savings obligations imposed on energy distributors or suppliers, coupled with a certification of the energy savings (via white certificates), and a possibility to trade certificates. The paper presents an up-to-date review of white certificate schemes in Europe, and analyses results achieved so far. It discusses design and operational features that are key to achieve the overall saving targets. Delineation of the scheme in terms of eligible projects, technologies and obliged parties, institutional structure and processes to support the schemes are among the issues discussed. Energy saving evaluation methods are central to the present discussion.JRC.DG.F.8-Renewable Energy (Ispra