New Contexts, New Players in European Energy Efficiency Programmes

This research paper examines the evolving landscape of energy efficiency intermediaries within the European Union, analyzing the shift from government and utility-led programs to a diverse array of new actors and the implications of integrating energy efficiency into broader sustainability agendas.

• The promotion of energy efficiency in the EU has shifted from being primarily the responsibility of national governments and energy utilities to involving a diverse range of new intermediaries. This change was driven by the privatization and opening of energy markets to competition, which caused utility-driven Demand Side Management (DSM) programs to face increasing problems and require reconfiguration.
• New intermediary organizations tasked with addressing the demand side of energy efficiency include specialized energy service companies (ESCOs), energy agencies, and organizations funded by public benefit charges. Additionally, the landscape includes non-governmental organizations, public-private partnerships, and regional or sectoral networks.
• Energy efficiency is currently promoted under multiple frameworks, such as sustainability, eco-efficiency, energy self-sufficiency, and climate change mitigation. The paper analyzes the advantages and challenges of 'nesting' energy efficiency within these broader climate or sustainability agendas, drawing on findings from an EC FP7 funded study titled 'Changing Behaviour'.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (2010). New Contexts, New Players in European Energy Efficiency Programmes. https://www.sei.org/publications/rose-name-new-contexts-players-european-energy-efficiency-programmes/

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. New Contexts, New Players in European Energy Efficiency Programmes. 2010. https://www.sei.org/publications/rose-name-new-contexts-players-european-energy-efficiency-programmes/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=New Contexts, New Players in European Energy Efficiency Programmes |date=18 January 2010 |url=https://www.sei.org/publications/rose-name-new-contexts-players-european-energy-efficiency-programmes/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitute2010new, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{New Contexts, New Players in European Energy Efficiency Programmes}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2010}, month = jan, url = {https://www.sei.org/publications/rose-name-new-contexts-players-european-energy-efficiency-programmes/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }