%0 Journal Article
%K Industrial energy analysis
%A Dian Phylipsen
%A Kornelis Blok
%A Ernst Worrell
%A Jeroen De Beer
%B Energy Policy
%D 2002
%G eng
%L LBNL-51312
%T Benchmarking the energy efficiency of Dutch industry: An assessment of the expected effect on energy consumption and CO<sub>2</sub> emissions
%V 30
%1 <p>International Energy Studies Group</p>
%2 LBNL-51312
%8 06/2002
%X <p>As part of its energy and climate policy the Dutch government has reached an agreement with the Dutch energy-intensive industry that is explicitly based on industry's relative energy efficiency performance. The energy efficiency of the Dutch industry is benchmarked against that of comparable industries in countries world-wide. In the agreement, industry is required to belong to the top-of-the-world in terms of energy efficiency. In return, the government refrains from implementing additional climate policies.This article assesses the potential effects of this agreement on energy consumption and CO<sub>2</sub> emissions by comparing the current level of energy efficiency of the Dutch industry — including electricity production — to that of the most efficient countries and regions. At the current structure achieving the regional best practice level for the selected energy-intensive industries would result in a 5plus or minus 2% lower current primary energy consumption than the actual level. Most of the savings are expected in the petrochemical industry and in electricity generation. Avoided CO<sub>2</sub> emissions would amount to 4 Mt CO<sub>2</sub>. A first estimate of the effect of the benchmarking agreement in 2012 suggests primary energy savings of 50-130 PJ or 5-10 Mt CO<sub>2</sub> avoided compared to the estimated Business as Usual development (5-15%). This saving is smaller than what a continuation of the existing policies of Long Term Agreements would probably deliver.</p>