Energy Efficiency is not only the key to accelerate decarbonization. It is also the key to make the decarbonization as cost-effective as possible, because the investments in energy efficiency reduce the need to expand the electricity grid or energy storage – and thereby lower the cost of fuel, energy, and infrastructure.
Ea Energy Analysis has investigated the accumulated additional societal costs on Sønderborg to achieve the zero target in 2029. It appears that the accumulated costs can be reduced from approx. 3.1 billion DKK over the period to approx. 1.34 billion DKK by including energy efficiency measures. The average CO2 reduction cost associated with the conversion is correspondingly reduced from DKK 390/tonne to DKK 170/tonne.
The calculations are based on a comparison scenario with no investments in energy efficiency at all.