As expected, the European Commission will propose raising the EU’s energy efficiency target for 2030 so that the Union’s final and primary energy consumption does not exceed a certain amount of millions of tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe), confirms a draft version of the proposed revision of the EU’s energy efficiency directive (2018/2002), as seen by EUROPE on Monday 5 July.
While the current target set by the directive is to improve energy efficiency by at least 32.5% by 2030 at EU level, the draft document does not specify what the new target proposed by the Commission will be.
National indicative targets
It further states that national targets “remain indicative”, given “the strong opposition of the majority of Member States towards binding national targets”.
Nevertheless, new mechanisms to address potential shortfalls in meeting the target are proposed in addition to those provided for in the Regulation (2018/1999) on the governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action.
Energy Efficiency First principle
The Commission is said to want to introduce an Energy Efficiency First principle article to provide a legal basis for this principle.
It would require Member States to ensure that energy efficiency solutions are taken into account in major planning, policy and investment decisions related to energy systems, as well as in relevant planning, policy and major investment decisions in non-energy sectors, where they have an impact on energy consumption and energy efficiency.
They should also ensure that the application of the Energy Efficiency First principle “is verified by the relevant entities where policy, planning and investment decisions are subject to approval and monitoring requirements”.
The formal revision proposal will be presented by the Commission on 14 July, as part of the legislative package designed to put the EU on track to reduce its net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 55% by 2030 (the ‘Fit for 55’ package).
See the draft: https://bit.ly/3hiibzX (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)