Is energy efficiency a driver or an inhibitor of energy consumption changes in Spain? Two decomposition approaches

• Published in: Energy policy Vol. 115; pp. 409 - 417
• Main Authors: Román-Collado, Rocío, Colinet, Maria José
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2018; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Changes; Decomposition; Decoupling; Divisia decomposition; Efficiency; Energy consumption; Energy efficiency; Energy efficiency policy; Energy intensity; Energy policy; Expansion; Final energy consumption; Households; Index decomposition analysis; Inhibitors; Input output analysis; Policy making; Power efficiency; Private transport; Production consumption relationship; Recessions; Residential energy; Structural decomposition analysis; Spain; Structural decomposition analysis; Index decomposition analysis; Final energy consumption; Energy intensity; Energy efficiency policy
• ISSN: 0301-4215; 1873-6777
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2018.01.026

The 2000–2008 expansion period of the economy was accompanied by an important increase of energy consumption. The desire of decoupling has led us to analyse the driving forces behind the energy consumption changes during this expansion period through a structural decomposition analysis (SDA) based on the Spanish input-output tables. Previous decomposition has been supplemented by a Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) analysis of the energy consumption changes during a longer period: 2000–2013. The results show that the energy intensity was the main inhibitor effect of the energy consumption changes of sectors of production, not only during the recession but also during the expansion period. Secondly, the energy intensity was a driver of the energy consumption change of households during the expansion period. However, during the recession period, the energy intensity of private transport contributed to reducing energy consumption, having an inhibitor effect. Therefore, if the activity effect is still the most important driver, the energy intensity effect has become the main inhibitor of energy consumption changes. The energy policy recommendation is to focus on household energy consumption in the future if the Spanish Government aims to attain the EU energy efficiency objectives. •Households are becoming the kingpin of Spain's energy consumption increase.•Energy intensity acts as a driver of household energy consumption changes.•Energy intensity effect is an inhibitor of sectors of production energy consumption.•Structural and Index decomposition analysis provide similar intensity effect values.