This week, the European Commission presented its climate and energy plans for 2030 reflecting the lowest common denominator among Commissioners. It commits the Union to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40 % and increase the share of renewable energy to 27 % by 2030. Contradicting its own analysis of economic, social and environmental benefits, the Commission’s White Paper does not propose a binding energy efficient target.
Oliver Loebel, Managing Director of PU Europe commented, “The 2030 package is a missed opportunity to set three mutually reinforcing targets based on the cost-effective potentials of sectors and countries. We welcome the Commission’s announcement to take a close look at additional energy efficiency measures with the review of the EED in June 2014. There is however a significant risk that any new efficiency legislation meets with opposition as it might affect the greenhouse gas target. It is disappointing to see that we are about to repeat the mistakes of the 2020 strategy.”
Indeed, recent research [1] has shown that the EU has a 41 % cost-effective energy savings potential by 2030. Tapping this potential would reduce greenhouse gas emissions in 2030 by 49 % to 61 %, compared to 1990 levels. This alone is more than the 40 % reduction proposed in the White Paper.
The main question of the June review is therefore not whether further energy efficiency legislation would bring economic, social and environmental benefits. This has been stressed by the Commission on numerous occasions. Instead, discussions might focus on the impact of such legislation on the climate and energy package proposed this week. It would be a disastrous signal if Europe’s existing building stock became a victim of such political fights although it represents 40 % of the energy demand and offers a cost-effective savings potential of about 60 %.
“The PU thermal insulation industry has created new jobs over the past years and is willing to further step up investments in the European Union. However, the 2030 package leaves many companies perplex and increases economic uncertainties. Let’s hope that the EED review leads to a clear longterm legislative framework addressing Europe’s existing buildings”, Loebel concluded.
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[1] Fraunhofer ISI report: Analysis of a European Reference Target System for 2030 – http://energycoalition.eu/sites/default/files/Fraunhofer%20ISI_
ReferenceTargetSystemReport.pdf