24 May 2012: The International Energy Agency Demand-Side Management (IEA-DSM) Programme has released the March 2012 issue of its newsletter, which features articles on, inter alia: the partnership between IEA-DSM and the Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP); energy savings calculations; the Norwegian smart grid system; and credit financing for energy contracting projects.

The newsletter profiles RAP, noting the Project’s new role as a sponsor of IEA-DSM, and its research and analysis role in the IEA-DSM Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standards task. It notes that RAP, an international group of experts focused on power and natural gas, has joined IEA-DSM work on Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standards for which it will provide in-kind research and analysis.

On energy saving calculations, the newsletter highlights the work on standardizing energy efficiency calculations through a report titled “Harmonised Energy Savings,” which considers methods to calculate annual energy savings from the perspective of the evaluator in a clear, straightforward manner. The newsletter also highlights the Norwegian Smartgrid Center, a collaboration between industry and academia, that helps to ensure access to the expertise necessary for the establishment of, and adaptation to, new energy systems.

Describing case studies, the newsletter concludes with a piece on financing methods for energy contracting projects, including forfeit financing and finance leasing. [Publication: IEA-DSM Newsletter March 2012]