Strasbourg, 08/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger revealed, on Tuesday 8 March, his revised action plan on energy efficiency which should help the EU and its member states to achieve the indicative objective set during the 2006 action plan and adopted in the 2008 climate package, to save 20% of all energy consumed by 2020. Given the way things are developing at present, this is a goal that the EU27 will not be able to attain. The current reduction in energy consumption is leading to no more than a 10% reduction by 2020. Jointly presented with the roadmap for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, developed by Commissioner Connie Hedegaard and the department under her, the new action plan proposed by the European executive arm is largely based on measures to be taken in the construction/building sector, which is the source of 40% of all energy consumed in Europe. Transport, another main source of energy consumption (30% of total EU consumption but rising considerably), will soon be the subject of a White Paper and a communication on biofuels.
As foreseen, the European Commission did not endorse the binding objectives solution, which is not favourably received by most member states. The revised action plan will be followed up in coming months by a legislative proposal on energy savings aimed at implementing all initiatives proposed. The Commission promises to bring in additional measures on eco-design in 2011 and 2012, as well as a proposal on innovative financing mechanisms this year. It also undertakes to make a detailed assessment of progress made in energy efficiency before the spring European Council in 2012. If necessary, binding national objectives in terms of energy savings will be put forward.
In the meantime, the revised action plan is largely based on the building sector. It promotes the exemplary role of the public sector and proposes a binding target to accelerate the refurbishment rate of the public sector building stock. Public authorities should be required to refurbish at least 3% of their buildings each year. The plan also introduces energy efficiency criteria in public procurement, and aims to trigger the renovation process in private buildings. The Commission will give a preferential place to new legislative acts that make it an obligation for member states to bring in measures by way of their legislation on property owners and tenants, in order to resolve the problem of diverging incentives. Energy service companies, which earn their living on their customers' consumer gains by inciting renovation, will be encouraged.
The revised plan is also geared to other initiatives, such as the deployment of smart grids and smart meters providing consumers with the information and services necessary to optimise their energy consumption and calculate their energy savings; as well as improved performance of electricity generation capabilities, the improved coupling of urban heating systems to electricity generation, and smart cities.
The Commission also attributes a role to each of the stakeholders. It will be up to member states to set binding energy saving programmes in place (white certificates). For industry, the plan sets out demands for energy efficiency applicable to industrial material, greater information communicated to SMEs, as well as regular, independent energy audits and energy management systems for the large enterprises. Industry's commitment will of course require public encouragement via incentives including tax relief and funding.
All measures proposed aim to generate considerable advantages for households, companies and public authorities. According to the Commission, the plan should transform the daily lives of Europeans by offering them the potential to save up to €1,000 per year per household, and create up to 2 million jobs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 740 million tonnes annually. (E.H./transl.jl)