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Consumer Information about PCF
Germany see e.g. ok power 19 , Grüner Strom Label 20 ), the latter meaning that it
contributes to the increase of the share of renewable energy in the electric grid beyond
existing legal requirements (e.g. proved by share of newly built power plants basing on
renewable energies).
• Additionally, there exist market surveys that aim to give consumers orientation
concerning “good” green electricity products (for Germany see e.g. www.ecotopten.de
or www.energie-vision.de).
The additional value of PCF compared to existing approaches is that it encompasses all
greenhouse gases and not only CO2.
Although there may be large differences in the electric grid between several European
countries, the improvement potential to increase the share of renewable energies in the
electric grid is generally still high. The differences between different electricity “products” for
consumers can be large. However, “green” alternatives are not available in all EU countries.
Against the background of legal requirements and available data bases, the effort to
determine the PCF of electricity products is still not to be underestimated. Moreover, there
are some methodological questions which are unsolved so far, at last referring to the tracking
of the CO2e emissions of electricity from renewable energy sources (e.g. double counting
must be avoided as well as the contrary). PCF should relate to a defined period of time
(usually one year, which corresponds to the existing labelling scheme). Then, no seasonal
problems should occur. One has to be aware that besides CO2e emissions, also other
environmental issues are relevant: nuclear waste, other emissions (e.g. SO2, particles). For
the latter it can be stated that they are somewhat connected to CO2e emissions in the sense
that low CO2e emissions most likely relate to low SO2 emissions. For nuclear waste this is
not the case.
CCS (Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage) is currently discussed as one means to reduce
CO2e emissions of power plants. The technology is still not mature, but it is clear that CCS
will reduce efficiency of the power plants.
In addition to PCF, there are other means to address climate change: fuel mix information,
information on share of newly built power plants for renewable energies. Indirectly, there
should be a focus on energy efficiency (not used electricity is the most environmentally
friendly one).
Overall, it can be concluded that the PCF is one crucial criterion a type I label for electricity
products should base on. In order not to be misleading, other criteria have to be considered
as well: share of newly built power plants basing on renewable energies 21 , exclusion of
19 http://www.energie-vision.de/?show=infos&sub=okpower
20 www.gruenerstromlabel.de
21 Only newly built power plants for renewable energies that exceed the legally requested share ensure an
added value for the environment.
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