A Concept for Monitoring Energy Policy Achievements

A Concept for Monitoring Energy Policy Achievements

With its election, the Federal Government of Germany has formulated its firm intention to develop a long-term strategy for the future energy supply. The energy concept of autumn 2010 and the changes made to it after the events in Fukushima, Japan, provide an elaboration of this strategy. The energy policy shall still be governed by the objectives being energy security, economic efficiency and environmental compatibility of energy supply. In this project, indicators for a monitoring of the change in energy policy were sighted, data availability for a monitoring based on this were checked, and a requirements profile for a monitoring based on indicators was developed. Emphasis was placed on the development of a concept based on data and evidence: these indicators should be objectively and intersubjectively comprehensible (e. g. by using publicly available data), as well as reliable and valid. The project focused on the possibility of a scientifically useful documentation of the achievement of objectives, not on the normative evaluation of the objectives or the evaluation of the means used for the achievement of objectives.In the course of the project, a group of experts from politics, economics and NGOs were appointed. The composition of the group provided a balance between different interest groups and the relevant institutions, being engaged in the energy policy debate. The diversity of the group of experts was very important for the objectivity, legitimacy, and acceptance of the research project in politics and society. The ZEW finally selected potential indicators for a monitoring along the criteria formulated and taking into consideration the meetings with the expert group.Project stage 1 comprised the inspection of the data available, the identification of relevant indicators and a critical evaluation and preparation of the data with regard to their relevance for monitoring energy policy. The results of Project stage 1 were discussed in the group of experts.Project stage 2 involved the conceptual development of the monitoring for energy policy using the indicators identified in stage 1 which had to determine whether relative or absoluter figures were used, whether the procedure was benchmark-based and to what extent an aggregated presentation of the measures was possible. Project stage 2 was also joined by a workshop with the group of experts.Finally, in Project stage 3, a project report was drawn up and published with a comprehensive documentation of the work that has been done. It contained an overview of existing monitoring approaches, available indicators, as well as a classification of the reference to the objectives and the quality of indicators and data sources. In order to illustrate the developed concept, a short report with selected indicators was compiled. For this purpose, the results of the two project workshops were evaluated and the relevant suggestions for the selection of the indicators and the monitoring concept were taken into account. Expertises (in German Language): Indikatoren für die energiepolitische Zielerreichung (as PDF, 2,01 MB)

Project members

Andreas Löschel

Andreas Löschel

Project Coordinator
Research Associate

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Nikolas Wölfing

Nikolas Wölfing

Junior Research Associate

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Tim Mennel

Tim Mennel

Senior Researcher

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Client/Allowance
Chemie Wirtschaftsförderungs-GmbH, Frankfurt am Main, DE

Contact

Junior Research Associate
Prof. Dr. Nikolas Wölfing
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