Brussels, 17/07/2014 (Agence Europe) - In the most recent version of the communication on energy efficiency to be presented by the Commission on 23 July, with a view to the adoption in October of the energy/climate framework 2030, the Commission is looking at a maximum target of 29% energy efficiency.
On the basis of the analysis of the action of the member states and additional forecasts, the European executive now takes the view that the EU will make energy savings in the region of 18% to 19% by 2020. “If all of the member states now all really get to work on implementing the legislation adopted, the 20% target can be achieved without the need for any additional measures”, the Commission says.
As regards the deadline of 2030, the Commission made proposals in January for binding objectives of 40% for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and at least 27% for the share of renewable energies in the primary energy mix of the EU (see EUROPE 11002). For energy efficiency, the Commission established that a good cost-efficiency ratio in the greenhouse gas reduction target the 2030 would require energy savings in the order of 25%.
However, given new concerns over energy security in the wake of the Ukrainian crisis, the Commission believes that it is “appropriate to propose a more ambitious target”, the level of which was not laid down precisely in the draft communication, but which is likely to remain somewhere in the 20s at most. This objective is likely to be between 27% and 29% inclusive, according to a source close to the dossier. “This will increase the costs of the framework 2030” by an annual amount in billions of euro which has not been laid down in the most recent version of the communication, “but this will offer benefits which outweigh these additional costs, as well as stimulating extra growth and creating new jobs in the energy efficiency sector”, Commission states.
In a chapter on the competitiveness of the EU, the communication refers to the emissions quotas trading system (ETS) as the main tool to bring about improvements in energy efficiency and reductions of greenhouse gas emissions in industry and to guarantee regulatory predictability. Energy efficiency in buildings and transport remains the key to reducing household bills.
In his investiture speech before the European Parliament on 15 July, the incoming president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, spoke in favour of a binding objective of at least 30% for energy efficiency by 2030. “In my book, this is the minimum if we wish to be credible and future-oriented. Europe cannot claim to be the leader in the fight against global warming unless it becomes more efficient in its use of energy, particularly in construction”, he said. (EH)