Energy efficiency Archives

The European Commission led by Ursula von der Leyen started its mandate on the good foot when it comes to energy efficiency policies. It must now think about its legacy and hold firm on the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), which is coming under attack from Eurosceptics in Italy and elsewhere, says Monica Frassoni.

The expansion of Russian oil and gas, especially in Asian markets, has helped Russia keep its political standing on the global stage - but G20 countries have the antidote by centring on energy efficiency, writes Oleksandr Butenko.

The massive deployment of intermittent renewable energies is set to dramatically increase the need for flexibility in the electricity grid, and market players want increased focus on demand management as a source of grid optimisation.

Electric vehicles are central to the energy transition as they can help integrate renewables and balance the electricity grid when demand is high. Yet, administrative complexities are holding up the deployment of charging points in buildings, writes Jayson Dong.

A €6 billion tax break and relief package for companies was removed from a German government meeting agenda on Wednesday (16 August) after Family Minister Lisa Paus said she could not agree unless more money was earmarked for child benefits. 

The energy crisis triggered by Russia's war in Ukraine is taking its toll on EU citizens, with 9.3% of the population unable to keep their homes adequately warm in 2022, a jump from 6.9% the year before, according to Eurostat. 

While EU lawmaking progresses at a breakneck pace, government infighting in Germany has stalled a revised energy efficiency law for over a year, adding a failed parliament vote to its list of woes.

The European Union is nearing an agreement on upgrading the leakiest, most inefficient buildings. This is an apolitical issue that must be kept out of the damaging clutches of politicisation, writes Adrian Joyce.

Central and Eastern European countries display low ambitions with their National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs), raising concerns about the region's ability to meet EU climate goals, campaigners warn. 

The digitalisation of distribution grids is one of the main priorities of the German Federal Network Agency, which presented ambitious plans on Monday (26 June) for the expansion of the country's electricity grid.

The European Commission’s energy system modelling will not produce accurate calculations about the EU’s climate future until it receives the update it needs, writes Niels Fuglsang. 

The world will simply have no chance of reaching the necessary climate goals if we do not get annual energy efficiency improvements up to approximately 4%, write Dan Jørgensen and Kim Fausing.

France has made energy sufficiency – the deliberate reduction of energy consumption – one of the three pillars of its decarbonisation strategy, alongside nuclear and renewables. However, Brussels and other European capitals have yet to fully embrace the approach.

As EU member states prepare to submit their revised National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) to the European Commission on 30 June, they must pay greater attention to energy efficiency, writes Monica Frassoni.

The energy crisis and pressure to reduce consumption following the invasion of Ukraine have driven further demand cuts as EU institutions join efforts to cut energy use and emissions.

The climate crisis is real, and simply hoping that EU citizens will voluntarily change their ways enough to create the necessary change is idealistic at best. European politicians are coming around to the idea of a more rigorously planned approach, so-called state 'planification'.

As Europe shuts down its remaining coal power plants and turns away from volatile gas for electricity generation, it is also losing key flexible power supplies that can be switched on at the last minute to keep the lights on during peak hours.

Austria may be fined for not transposing the original 2018 version of the EU Energy Efficiency Directive due to be transposed at the start of 2021,  a turn of events for which the opposition blames the lack of unity within the government.

EU lawmakers have agreed to increase the ambition of the bloc’s energy efficiency directive, making energy savings of 11.7% by 2030 mandatory in a bid to further the bloc's climate and energy independence goals.

A battle of wills over ambition in a new law to improve energy efficiency in Europe risks delaying an agreement on the bill ahead of another round of negotiations on Thursday (9 March).

The EU is planning to extend its gas consumption reduction measures into next winter, the bloc's energy ministers said on Tuesday (28 February), to replenish stocks.

With Russian gas supplies gone, the energy deficit facing Europe is likely to get worse. Yet, focusing on increasing energy supply while neglecting the need to reduce demand is an asymmetrical strategy, writes Rasmus Abildgaard Kristensen.

The European Commission’s proposal on the energy efficiency of buildings in exchange for more funds to support renovations would have devastating effects in Italy, said the President of Confedelizia Giorgio Spaziani Testa who called on politicians to defend the savings of Italian families.

Buildings account for a large share of EU energy consumption. To reduce energy demand and increase efficiency, cities need dedicated funding and support for local initiatives and households, writes André Sobczak.