EU 2030 climate and energy framework needs energy savings target
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During the joint debate between the European Parliament’s ITRE[1] and ENVI[2] committees on 7 November, a majority of MEPs referred to the necessity to boost the EU’s competitiveness, to ensure affordability and to secure energy supplies. Indeed, the co-rapporteur on the file, Belgian MEP Anne Delvaux (European People’s Party), argued that politicians are underestimating the potential role that energy efficiency can play in helping the EU to meet its climate targets, while UK Liberal Democrat MEP Fiona Hall argued that policies to boost energy efficiency in the EU are cost-effective and can potentially deliver energy savings of up to 40% by 2030. German MEP Peter Liese (EPP) argued that the EU had made a mistake by not making energy efficiency a cornerstone of its previous climate and energy package, and called for a binding target this time around.
The session saw committee members of all political persuasions and from all over Europe express wide support for ensuring that energy efficiency policy features in the EU’s 2030 climate and energy package of legislation.
“Last week’s debate revealed the breadth of support for more action on energy efficiency beyond 2020. Rightly so as energy efficiency measures like CHP create employment at every level of the economy and can be a powerful stimulus for European industry and services. The European Commission and member states must listen to this wake-up call and put energy efficiency at the centre of any 2030 climate and energy package,” said COGEN Europe Managing Director Fiona Riddoch.
The Commission is currently drafting a proposal for the 2030 climate and energy framework, with publication expected at the end of January 2014. The ITRE and ENVI Committees will hold a second joint meeting on 2 December 2013, with votes in Committees and plenary expected in January and February 2014 respectively. EU heads of state and government plan to discuss the Commission proposal at their regular spring summit in March 2014.
For more information please contact:
| Andrew Williams, Communication Manager Tel: +32 2 775 9071 Email: andrew.williams@cogeneurope.eu |
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About cogeneration:
Cogeneration (also known as CHP or Combined Heat and Power) involves the simultaneous production of heat and electricity from a single plant which results in massive savings to the economy of primary energy and consequential reductions of GHG emissions.
Today, a significant 11.2 % of Europe’s electricity is generated using a vast array of proven and cost effective techniques (cumulative capacity > 100 GWe). About half of the heat produced is used in district heating network while the remaining half serves industrial needs.
Cogeneration units can be found in various sectors and sizes: in industries, households and tertiary buildings and in capacities ranging from a kilowatt to hundreds of MegaWatts of electricity output. CHP plants can draw upon a wide range of energy sources, from traditional fossil fuels to renewable energies (combustion-based units with biomass, biogases or bioliquids, or steam-based plant connected to geothermal or concentrated solar panel installations) that make them ready for the future energy system.
Realising the identified economic potential for cogeneration in Europe – estimated at 110-120 GWe additional – will be instrumental to reaching the EU’s strategic climate and energy goals, while underpinning job creation and being an engine to industrial competitiveness.
About COGEN Europe:
COGEN Europe is Europe’s umbrella organisation representing the interests of the cogeneration industry, users of the technology and promoting its benefits in the EU and the wider Europe. The association is backed by the key players in the industry including gas and electricity companies, ESCOs, equipment suppliers, consultancies, national promotion organisations, financial and other service companies. More information onwww.cogeneurope.eu