scope:

This Technical Report, TR, will analyse and describe the concept of energy efficiency obligation schemes and white certificate schemes for energy efficiency improvement, based on the experiences in Europe. The scope is focused on the current systems in use in Italy, France, Denmark and Great Britain. These national systems have been in operation long enough to gain some valuable experiences about the systems. Information about these experiences is easily accessible. Some additional information about the regional system in Flanders, Belgium, Poland, Ireland, Spain and Portugal have been included in this report when considered relevant. Apart from the descriptive aim, the second aim will be to analyse if there is a need and/or possibility to harmonise a system in Europe (i.e. to write a standard). The scope will also include an analysis about why some countries are hesitant to introduce white certificate systems.