Assessing the Role of Cooperation Mechanisms for Achieving the Austrian 2020 Renewable Energy Target (Project ReFlex)

This paper offers a first assessment of the use and impacts of the RES cooperation mechanisms for achieving the Austrian 34% RES-target by 2020. A comprehensive model-supported analysis has been conducted that assesses the impacts of increasing domestic energy efficiency and renewable energy measures and the potential for cooperation with other (EU) countries through the use of the cooperation mechanisms. In addition to direct impacts related to RES deployment and energy efficiency measures, macroeconomic and external effects were incorporated into the analysis. The paper concludes that an overachievement of Austria's RES target economically makes sense from both an Austrian and a European perspective. Moreover, such a strategy may serve as a safeguard against unpredictable changes and could lay the foundation for future RES target achievements and would contribute to an economically attractive and future-oriented pathway for Austria's RES policy while facilitating RES cooperation across the European Union