The mitigation of (anthropogenic) climate change requires an extensive decarbonisation of production and consumption activities
and thus a major transformation of societal processes and energy systems. In order to monitor and evaluate the transformation
path en route to the long-term climate and energy policy targets adequate information and measurement tools are required.
In this paper we use the system of Indicators for Sustainable Energy Development for Austria (ISED-AT) and the complementing
composite indices in a forward-looking approach, applying them to analyse changes in the energy system in three scenarios
for the period until 2030. The analysis of household final energy demand and electricity and heat supply in Austria in the
three scenarios reveals substantial progress in terms of ecological aspects, such as the share of renewable energy sources
and CO2 emissions. With respect to energy efficiency, until 2030 an accelerated improvement that goes far beyond the rates
observed in the past is assumed for the household sector. Making full use of the available potentials for energy efficiency
improvements will be decisive for a fundamental transformation of the energy systems.
Keywords:Austria, TP_Nachhaltigkeit_Nachhaltigkeit sustainable energy development, composite index, scenario analysis, TP_GrueneTransformation
Forschungsbereich:Klima-, Umwelt- und Ressourcenökonomie
A transformation of prevailing energy systems requires adequate measurement systems. In this paper we propose an energy-service
based indicator set and a composite index for monitoring sustainable energy development in the residential sector and electricity
and heat supply in Austria. The system of Indicators for Sustainable Energy Development for Austria (ISED-AT) and the composite
index focus on energy services instead of energy flows and are hence effective tools for monitoring and guiding the transition,
as they allow assessing the whole range of technology options for providing a particular energy service. The analysis of household
final energy demand and electricity and heat supply in Austria shows substantial progress in terms of ecological aspects,
such as the share of renewable energy sources and CO2 emissions. With respect to energy efficiency, in contrast, only little
improvement can be observed. Efficiency of energy service provision is decreasing except for heating and air conditioning.
Final energy demand is rising in all areas of household energy demand. The challenge lies in a substantial improvement of
energy efficiency that will allow an absolute decoupling of energy service demand from final energy consumption.