The aim of the study is to give insight in energy-efficiency and capture-readiness of recently built (>1997) and planned fossil-fired power plants in the EU. Information was found for nearly 70 power plants. The results indicate that most plants have efficiencies close to BAT level and a large share of planned coal plants are expected to be capture-ready. Most recently built fossil plants and most planned gas plants however are not designed as capture-ready.

The Gold Standard is a certification scheme for voluntary and compliance carbon credits, accepting only renewable energy and energy efficiency projects that actively promote sustainable development. The Gold Standard Version 2 consists of the following documents:

The Requirements present the fundamental principles and the rules of Gold Standard certification in a concise way.

The Toolkit describes the project cycle and provides examples and detailed instructions on the use of the Gold Standard.

The Upgrade explains the differences between the Gold Standard Version 1 and 2.

Gold Standard version 2 is valid starting from 1 August 2008.

In this report Ecofys examines and compares efforts against climate change of the G8 countries in commission for Allianz and WWF. The study presents an overview of the implemented and planned measures aiming to counteract climate change. Moreover Ecofys ranked the countries assessing aspects like emissions, renewable energy development and energy efficiency. Additionally the study analysed climate performance of five large developing countries, namely Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa.

In this report Ecofys presents an approach to share the energy and climate related targets between EU Member States simultaneously. The method includes the EU’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction target (-20% or 30% in 2020), the renewable target (20% by 2020), and the energy efficiency target (20% better than reference by 2020) as well as the EU Emission Trading Scheme. The study demonstrates that greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) could be reduced by more than 30%, if the already agreed targets on renewable energy and energy efficiency are implemented and action is taken in other sectors.

In this study Ecofys evaluates an allocation method for EU Emissions Trading as developed by the IFIEC federation. In the evaluation, the direct costs and environmental outcomes of the IFIEC method are compared with two other allocation methods: auctioning and historic grandfathering.

Commissioned by EURIMA (European Insulation Manufacturers Association) we have created a new study, analyzing U-values (insulation thickness) for a better energy performance of European buildings. The study provides findings for 100 European cities. Aim of the study is to contribute to the discussion of policy makers when reconsidering national regulations. The study reveals that there is significant room for improvement of standards.

For CRIEPI (Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, Japan) we compared the energy efficiency of fossil-fired power generation for Australia, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Nordic countries, South Korea, United Kingdom and Ireland, and United States.

This report has been written by Ecofys and Spinconsult at the request of EnergieNed and the Dutch Ministries of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment and Economic Affairs. The assessment focused on the chances for carbon capture and storage (CCS) at coal power plants in the Netherlands.

For WWF International Ecofys made an assessment of policies and measures in G8 plus 5 countries, with recommendations for decision makers at national and international level.

Ecofys conducted an initial assessment of the draft National Allocation Plans (NAPs) for the 2nd phase of the EU Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS) due to run from 2008 to 2012. The focus is on Member State progress towards Kyoto targets and the level of the cap relative to Business as Usual (BAU) emission developments. The assessment was based on draft and notified versions of NAPs from 18 out of 25 EU Member States plus Romania and Bulgaria who will join the scheme from 2007.

The objective of this report is to provide an analytical basis to underpin discussions on future commitments to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at the end of the first Kyoto Protocol commitment period (i.e. post-2012). The project report provides (1) fact sheets with detailed data for 47 countries and (2) calculations of the implications of future climate regime architectures on emission allowances on a country level.

For Greenpeace France, Ecofys provided an independent assessment for European Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) sectors in France in phase II of the EU ETS according to the objective of the Emissions Trading Directive using the projection data publicly available as of March 2006.

Ecofys investigated for Eurima, the European insulation manufacturers association, the impact of the EPBD and possible extensions on the building stock of the investigated new EU Member States. The study demonstrates that compared with the building stock of the long standing EU-15, the average of the building stock in the new Member States can be characterized by a lack of maintenance resulting in an urgent need for refurbishment.

This report provides an overview of the progress made on the European market for renewable energy sources for the EU-25 member states. The results and analysis describe the situation at the end of 2004.

Comparison of the climate performance of the G8 countries. The report gives information on emissions, projections and climate policies for Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, United Kingdom and United States of America. Includes background information for China, Brazil, India, Mexico, and South Africa.

This study addresses the relevance of SF6 electrical equipment in past, current and future greenhouse gas reduction efforts. The analysis was carried out by Ecofys on request of CAPIEL, the Coordinating Committee for the Associations of Manufacturers of Industrial Electrical Switchgear and Controlgear in the European Union in cooperation with the Union of the Electricity Industry, EURELECTRIC representing the main utilities in the European Union.

This report reviews the environmental impact of the casing drilling Land Offshore Containerised (LOC250) oil drilling installation to the environmental impact of a “standard” drilling installation. The investigation focus on polluting gases within the three primary activities of a drilling installation (emissions related to transport, construction and operation).

To finalize an IEA task, Ecofys was contracted by Gramsbergen solar to give an update on the current status of solar drying in Europe. Furthermore, Ecofys developed a basic calculation tool for solar dryers in Europe.
Click here to get more information on the calculation tool.

The study provides an overview of the proposals on international climate policy after the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol 2008 to 2012. It includes a comprehensive compromise proposal and a comparison of emission allowances under different approaches. Authors: Niklas Höhne, Dian Phylipsen, Simone Ullrich, Kornelis Blok.

Ecofys wrote this market report in cooperation with Reuters Business Insight. The report examines the burgeoning emissions trade market in detail, providing analyses and actionable advice to enable you to develop the best carbon strategies. (This is an update of the report issued in 2002.)

This study, commissioned by the UK Department for Trade and Industry and Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, contains the details of in-depth research into member states' National Allocation Plans. The report draws some high-level conclusion as well as providing details of the analysis used to measure NAPs against the EU ETS directive's criteria. The study covers NAPs that had been submitted to the European Commission in final form by the end of July 2004.

Ecofys conducted a research for Greenpeace on the possibilities of reducing electricity consumption to prevent the construction of a 1000-megawatt (MW) power plant in the Netherlands. A Dutch report and an English summary are available.

Ecofys, in cooperation with TNO-NITG, presents in this report estimates of the worldwide carbon dioxide storage potential and of the costs related to capture a storage of carbon dioxide.

Ecofys wrote this market report in cooperation with Reuters Business Insight. The report provides a detailed analysis of the market, revealing the strategies that will enable you to market biomass electricity alongside other green energy sources. By using the Dutch biomass market as a case study, this report will enable you to identify the key profit opportunities to be derived from biomass energy.

For the Dutch Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and Environment (VROM) Ecofys investigated the questions that had arisen around the implementation of the recent European biofuel directive. The findings are presented in this report.

Ecofys wrote this market report in cooperation with Reuters Business Insight. The report evaluates current national green energy markets and assesses the future for a Pan-European renewable electricity market.

Ecofys wrote this market report in cooperation with Reuters Business Insight. The report examines the burgeoning emissions trade market in detail, providing analyses and actionable advice to enable you to develop the best carbon strategies.

For EURIMA , the European Insulation Manufacturers Association, Ecofys investigated the contribution of thermal insulation to the reduction of energy consumption and the related CO2 emissions in the building sector.

Ecofys wrote this market report in cooperation with Reuters Business Insight. Focusing on the impact of new policies and the key issues such as certification and labelling, this report evaluates the current European green energy market and identifies the main areas for growth and development to 2010.

This report presents the results of a study for the EU. The study aimed at identifying the least-cost packages of policies and measures for meeting the EU's greenhous gas reduction target under the Kyoto Protocol.

Ecofys reports on one of the most promising applications for solar heating is the drying of agricultural products. Low cost air-based collectors can provide this heated air at solar collection efficiencies of 30 to 70%.