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Wednesday Feb 16, 2011

EU leaders way too shy on energy efficiency

So the 4th of February European Energy Summit between heads of government came and went. As we said in our previous blog post, the EU is lagging behind in fulfilling its target to increase energy efficiency by 20% by 2020. The block is on a track for just 10% energy savings – only half of what was hoped for. Leaders were set to discuss this issue and how to overcome it.

They certainly did recognise this energy efficiency gap and the importance of energy efficiency in general, which is great. In particular, they acknowledged that energy efficiency in the transport sector, in economic production and processes, and in the building sector is an important factor to stimulate competitiveness, jobs, and energy security while addressing climate change.  

However, despite this recognition EU member countries did not yet agree that we need to move from an indicative to a mandatory target, as many have argued. Among these powerful voices are Members of the European Parliament and the Coalition for Energy Savings that represents 22 businesses, professional and civil society organisations. Ahead of the summit 36 major household appliance companies - among which Miele, Electrolux, Liebherr and Whirlpool - sent a letter to the EU Council asking for bold action.

It's a shame Europe's leaders didn't listen. A binding target - combined with a coherent set of policies and measures - is the only way to make sure that the potential of the target is realised. By delaying strong action, EU leaders missed the chance to credibly tackle climate change, while stimulating green growth, and energy security. 

Individual blog entries do not necessarily represent the views of all the partner organisations.

Comments (5)

Per Anker-Nilssen, Confederation of Norwegian Enerprise

Friday Feb 18, 2011
The use of (politically set) primary energy factors (PEF) in the ecodesign directive - punish electricity use - regardless if its produced from renewables or coal - and promotes natural gas. It locks Europe to gas and makes it impossible to have a low-carbon society in 2050. For example will the ecodesign directive make the most energy efficient and most environmentally friendly use of a heat-pump driven by renewable electricity less economically attractive due to the use of PEF.

Editor

Tuesday Feb 22, 2011
Dear Per, thanks for your comment. I have asked one of our experts to reply.

Gunnar Boye Olesen, INFORSE

Tuesday Feb 22, 2011
With EUs' internal market for both products and largely also for electricity there must be common rules for product standards, and in the internal market product standards can only be set at EU level. Because of that we support regulation of energy efficiencies of heating equipment that includes a factor to compare equipment using electricity (such as heat pumps) with equipment using oil, gas, and other fuels.

Since the average electricity production in EU has a loss of about 60%, including losses in electric networks, pump storages, etc. the conversion factor between electricity and fuels have been set to a factor 2.5, so consumption of one 1 kWh of electricity equals consumption of 2.5 kWh of fuel. This is of course an average of different factors in different countries. In France and Germany the factor is higher while for instance it Scandinavia it is lower.

The electricity markets are increasingly connected, so if the factor leads to "too much" electricity savings in Scandi

Gunnar Boye Olesen, INFORSE

Tuesday Feb 22, 2011
(continued)
The electricity markets are increasingly connected, so if the factor lead to "too much" electricity savings in Scandinavia, the excess electricity can be exported to Germany that will get "too little" savings with a common conversion factor, as efficiency of electricity-using heating products in Germany will be rated too good relatively to German circumstances.

If a lot of efficient renewable energy is installed throughout Europe and inefficient power plants, for instance nuclear power plants, are retired, the factor will change. This can be included in future updates of the regulation that are expected every 5 year.

Regarding the ability to reach a low-carbon socety in 2050 with all energy from renewable energy, one of the first issues to address is to have houses that are ready for the transition, as houses are some of the longest living energy uses we have. In the parts of Europe where space heating is a major energy demand, houses equipped with central heating a

Gunnar Boye Olesen, INFORSE

Tuesday Feb 22, 2011
(continued)
In the parts of Europe where space heating is a major source of energy demand, houses equipped with central heating are well prepared for renewable heating from district heating, biomass boilers, or from more efficient ground-source heat pumps. Therefore installation of efficient gas boilers in 2011 is not a problem in a transition over the next 20 years or more to renewable energy. Lifetimes of boilers are typically 20 years.
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