This article analyses which kinds of public planning, regulation and initia
tives are suitable for the implementation of energy-conservation policies.
The policies are important elements of the Danish plans for implementing CO
2-reduction targets. The plans are characterised by a move away from energy
systems, based on large power stations and large gas and oil extraction sy
stems, to far more decentralised systems based on energy efficiency at the
individual places of consumption and renewable energy systems adapted to lo
cal conditions. This change demands not only technical modifications, but a
lso large, organisational changes, which will often entail the establishmen
t of completely new organisations. The nature and complexity of the needed
technological changes call for public regulation instruments of the same na
ture, i.e. numerous, differentiated and multi-purpose. In the case of elect
ric-heating conversion, such public regulation so far has managed to achiev
e CO2 reductions together with the creation of 150 jobs. In the near future
, more than 1000 permanent jobs can be created without negative consequence
s for the balance-of-payment. The same kind of job creation is possible in
most other European countries. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.
All rights reserved.