Brussels, 22/06/2011 (Agence Europe) - The new measures proposed by the Commission to effectively increase energy efficiency aim to achieve Europe's 20% energy efficiency target for 2020, fixed in 2008. If the present rate is maintained, the EU will not be able to achieve that target, being unable to improve more than 9% in energy performance by the end of this decade. Member states are now formally notified that they must make energy savings in national energy consumption over the next two years, if they do not wish to have binding targets imposed on them in 2014.
Further to its revised action plan presented on 8 March, the European Commission tabled a draft directive on energy efficiency on Wednesday 22 June. According to Commissioner Günther Oettinger, the proposal aims to “help citizens, public authorities and the industry to better manage their energy consumption, which should also lead to a reduced energy bill”. The new text also provides measures whereby member states would step up their effort for a more effective use of energy at every stage of the energy chain, from energy transformation to its distribution and on to the final user. Although the overall target to make 20% energy savings by 2020 remains indicative, a number of the measures proposed are compulsory.
The Commission above all suggests there should be a legal obligation on all member states to establish energy savings plans. Energy distribution companies or retail energy sales will be under an obligation to achieve energy savings equivalent to 1.5% of their sales volume each year, at the level of the final consumers, through implementation of energy efficiency measures such as more efficient heating systems, the installation of double-glazing and roof insulation. Member states may suggest other energy saving mechanisms, for example, funding programmes or voluntary agreements leading to the same results but not based on obligations imposed on energy companies.
The public sector must set an example. Public bodies will push for the market uptake of energy efficient products and services through a legal obligation to purchase energy efficient buildings, products and services. They will further have to progressively reduce the energy consumed on their premises by carrying out annual renovation work covering at least 3% of their total floor area. State-owned public buildings, local authorities and municipalities make up 12% of the EU's total real estate.
Consumers, for their part, will be able to better manage their energy consumption through easy and free-of-charge access to data on real time and historical energy consumption through more accurate individual meters, empowering consumers to better manage their energy consumption. Invoicing should be based on real consumption, reflecting data on the meter.
In industry, there will be incentives for SMEs to undergo energy audits and disseminate best practice while large companies will have to undergo an audit of their energy consumption.
The proposal also covers efficiency in energy generation with the monitoring of efficiency levels of new energy generation capabilities, and the establishment of national heat and cooling plans as a basis for sound planning of efficient heating and cooling infrastructures, including recovery of waste heat.
When it comes to the transmission and distribution of energy, the proposal provides for efficiency gains to be achieved by ensuring that national energy regulators take energy efficiency criteria into account in their decisions, in particular when approving network tariffs.
The proposal is based on the texts in force - Directive 2004/8/EC on cogeneration and energy services, and Directive 2006/32/EC on the supply of energy and final energy consumption - recast into a single, comprehensive legislative act.
In 2014, the Commission will assess the progress accomplished with a view to the objective set for 2020 and, if necessary, will present a new legislative proposal imposing binding national objectives on energy efficiency. (E.H./transl.jl)