Energy and GHG saving potentials of sufficiency measures -- a synthesis for Germany

TL;DR

This paper systematically reviews and synthesizes data on energy and GHG savings potentials of sufficiency measures in Germany, creating a comprehensive open-source database to aid policymakers and modellers.

Contribution

It develops a structured, harmonized database of over 300 quantified sufficiency potentials for Germany, addressing data heterogeneity and gaps.

Findings

Building sector has most quantifications, especially appliances.

Reducing per capita living space offers the highest savings.

Potential savings include -150 TWh/a energy and -118 Mt CO2eq./a.

Abstract

The sixth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) emphasises the potential of demand-side measures, such as sufficiency, for mitigating climate change. Although quantified potentials of various sufficiency measures exist, policy advisors and energy modellers criticise the lack of findability and comparability of the relevant data. Due to the high level of heterogeneity in units, reference points and calculation methods, the data cannot be used to summarise sufficiency potentials at a national level. Consequently, this paper aims to identify, structure, harmonise and synthesise existing data in order to determine the greatest saving potentials per sector and highlight data gaps. Based on a systematic literature review, we have created a curated open-source database containing over 300 quantified energy and greenhouse gas (GHG) saving potentials for Germany, which could be used as a blueprint for other such data collections. Most quantifications were available for the building sector, particularly for appliances. The highest total energy and GHG emission savings in Germany were identified in measures that reduce per capita living space, with saving potentials of -150 Terawatt-hours per year (TWh/a) and -118 Million Tons of Carbon Dioxide Equivalents per year (Mt CO2eq./a; this measure also includes lower heating temperatures). This synthesis can help modellers to better account for sufficiency potentials in scenarios, and help policymakers to understand the saving potentials of sufficiency. We encourage researchers to quantify more energy and GHG saving potentials in order to fill the identified gaps and to use the proposed synthesis structure.