Commission launches consultation on energy efficiency

Publication date: 22 June 2009

The European Commission has launched its public consultation on a revised action plan for energy efficiency. The consultation is open till 3 August. The Commission should, later in 2009 or in 2010, propose a revision of the October 2006 action plan that outlined legislation, policies and other measures aimed at saving 20% of EU annual primary energy consumption by 2020. The 2006 action plan proposed a range of energy efficiency initiatives to be put in place and
implemented until 2012.

Nonetheless, the Commission has been criticised for not making energy efficiency targets binding as are targets for the share of renewables, alternative fuels in transport and reductions in CO2 emissions. EU officials see «strong» indications that with ongoing actions the EU will not be able to reach its saving objective for 2020. The Commission also sees greater diversity as to energy efficiency in the 27 member states than on other energy policy issues.

This raises the question, notes the Commission’s paper, as to whether a more systematic and harmonised approach should be considered. «Given the increasing priority for ensuring that investment in energy consumption reduction are made in all member states, the question arises as to whether it is the time now to move towards binding energy efficiency targets,» concludes the consultation paper. Here, the Commission rightly ponders as to how measurement and verification of energy savings can be improved in monitoring the results of any measures introduced at national and EU level.

The consultation paper is available at: http://ec.europa.eu/yourvoice/index_en.htm

Source: Europolitics