EU must develop 'competitive and secure energy system'

The EU should 'prioritise' buildings and industry in energy efficiency 'ambition', writes Marie Donnelly

By Marie Donnelly

18 Jun 2014

Launched in 2006 as an initiative of the European commission, the ninth edition of the EU sustainable energy week (EUSEW) will take place from 23-27 June 2014. It has become a reference point for public authorities, energy agencies, private companies, NGOs and industry associations engaged in helping to meet the EU's energy and climate goals.

For those interested in where Europe is heading in the areas of renewable energy and energy efficiency, it is an important date in the calendar. It brings together stakeholders from across the EU and beyond to exchange ideas and experiences, and to build alliances in the transition towards a more sustainable energy future for Europe. This year's EUSEW takes place at a particularly exciting time for the union in terms of energy and climate policies.

Europe has high ambitions to build a competitive and secure energy system that ensures affordable energy for all consumers, increases the security of the EU's energy supplies, reduces dependence on energy imports and creates new opportunities for growth and jobs. An important part of the work currently going on is to track progress in regard to the EU 2020 targets for climate and energy, namely 20 per cent improvement in energy efficiency, 20 per cent reduction in greenhouse gases compared to 1990 levels, and 20 per cent energy consumption from renewable sources.

"Achieving the energy efficiency goal is crucial and an important part of the commission's current work in the energy field"

Achieving the energy efficiency goal is crucial and an important part of the commission's current work in the energy field. The energy efficiency directive required the member states to lay out their own national indicative targets for 2020 in April 2013.

Member states are also committed to achieving specific energy saving targets between 2014 and 2020 through measures designed to drive efficiency in households, industry, and transport. The review of member states' progress towards the 20 per cent efficiency target is scheduled for the summer of 2014. It will not only simply evaluate their progress but will set a strategy for energy efficiency by indicating the optimal level of savings for 2030.

Energy security is inseparable from the 2030 framework for climate and energy. The transition to a competitive, low-carbon economy will reduce the use of imported fossil fuels by moderating energy demand and exploiting renewable and other indigenous sources of energy. Therefore, in response to the crisis in Ukraine and because of the overall importance of a stable and abundant supply of energy for the EU's citizens and economy, the European commission released an EU energy security strategy on 28 May 2014. This strategy is based on an in-depth study of member states' energy dependencies, and proposes actions in five key areas.

"Increasing energy efficiency and increasing energy production in the EU, including renewables, were two of the proposed actions that the commission highlighted in the strategy"

Increasing energy efficiency and increasing energy production in the EU, including renewables, were two of the proposed actions that the commission highlighted in the strategy. In the area of energy efficiency, priority should be on buildings and industry which use 40 per cent and 25 per cent of total EU energy, respectively. The higher the level of energy efficiency ambition, the more rapidly Europe can reduce its dependence on imported energy – particularly gas. Every additional one per cent in energy savings leads to a reduction of about 2.3 per cent in gas imports.

The European energy security strategy should be managed together with the 2030 policy framework on climate and energy. In this context it is therefore also important that decisions are taken on the framework soon, and this has also been signalled by the European council.

The EUSEW plays an important role in keeping all these goals at the top of EU and national agendas. At the core of the EUSEW is a high level policy conference in Brussels featuring more than 30 sessions on sustainable energy over three days at the commission's Charlemagne building.

Alongside the conference, local energy days are being organised throughout June, in Brussels, across the EU, and beyond. Energy days are not-for-profit events that promote energy efficiency or renewable energy. From exhibitions to workshops, concerts and guided tours, the aim of energy days is to promote the benefits of energy efficiency and renewables to the public, stakeholders, and the media.

This year, it can be organised during the entire month of June and this will be an excellent opportunity to keep attention on the importance of energy policy.