Can Energy Policy Work?

Thinking about energy policy isn't so comfy, but it's cool to see what's happening in Europe. I've been reading the recently published report on environment and energy use in the EU.

For the sixth consecutive year EU-27 energy

intensity (gross inland consumption divided by

gross domestic product) dropped while GDP

continued a general upward trend over the same

period.

The report is full of interesting and fairly accessible facts, figures, and charts about the energy economy in the Eurozone for 2009. Some highlights:

• Energy dependency fell by 5.7%.
• Production of renewable energy rose 8.3% while production of all other energy sources fell. 
• Denmark is a net exporter of energy mainly due to emphasis on renewables.

The "highly regulated" energy policy environment in Europe is working. And this is in spite of some countries where energy intensity remains fairly high.