Seeking enhanced efficiency in energy production (actually, harvesting energy from the natural environment), conversion and use is an important and viable aim, even though it is likely that this will not lead to total reductions in energy use simply because the benefits of using more energy will be considered to outweigh costs, including environmental costs. Especially because of the increase in intermittent energy production from renewable sources, energy efficiency is in practice increasingly and intimately related to energy systems integration and a systems perspective on efficiency is often central. This can relate to the capacity factor of wind turbines and the source of electricity during low-wind periods, the use of relatively small-scale thermal storage functions in buildings to buffer variations in electricity production, or to a systems assessment where the true (energy) costs of improved new buildings or renovations is weighed against the potential energy savings. In the broader picture, it is often the true total system of costs and savings to society which should be in focus, not the energy producer’s or consumer’s perspective, which may be strongly affected by taxes and subsidies. It is likely that significant new Research Infrastructures will be necessary to optimally approach these challenges. However, the future system is constructed: it is vital that it can reliably and securely supply the necessary base-load power at all times and at reasonable cost
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Seeking enhanced efficiency in energy production (actually, harvesting energy from the natural environment), conversion and use is an important and viable aim, even though it is likely that this will not lead to total reductions in energy use simply because the benefits of using more energy will be considered to outweigh costs, including environmental costs. Especially because of the increase in intermittent energy production from renewable sources, energy efficiency is in practice increasingly and intimately related to energy systems integration and a systems perspective on efficiency is often central. This can relate to the capacity factor of wind turbines and the source of electricity during low-wind periods, the use of relatively small-scale thermal storage functions in buildings to buffer variations in electricity production, or to a systems assessment where the true (energy) costs of improved new buildings or renovations is weighed against the potential energy savings. In the broader picture, it is often the true total system of costs and savings to society which should be in focus, not the energy producer’s or consumer’s perspective, which may be strongly affected by taxes and subsidies. It is likely that significant new Research Infrastructures will be necessary to optimally approach these challenges. However, the future system is constructed: it is vital that it can reliably and securely supply the necessary base-load power at all times and at reasonable cost