Katrin Ostertag – författare

The climate change debate has stimulated a controversy on the existence and size of potentials to reduce energy consumption at an economic benefit, so-called no-regret potentials. This book develops a theoretical evaluation framework with particular focus on transaction costs and real option theory. The resulting typology of no-regret potentials serves to re-evaluate the no-regret potential inherent in highly efficient electric motors and in energy service contracting. Both case studies confirm the existence of no-regret potentials, even if they indicate a certain spread of results around the original estimates. The book concludes with perspectives for deriving more aggregated model-based results.

The future of modern societies depends on their ability to deal with the challenge of climate change in the coming decades. One essential component is a better understanding of innovation processes in the energy sector. This book focuses on sustainability innovations in renewable energies, combined heat and power, and energy service contracting, and analyses the institutions, actors and functions within the innovation system. Of particular interest is the question of whether the joint effect of EU-driven market liberalization and climate policies will succeed in establishing market forces that will drive actors towards more climate-friendly energy production. A special focus is on the role of local utilities in the electricity sector as opposed to large transmission net operators or regional net operators. The countries covered in the contributions include Germany, Denmark, the UK, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.