White Paper: Energy System Efficiency for Competitiveness and Security of Energy Supply

As Europe seeks to enhance its competitiveness and resilience while addressing climate and social goals, a transformative approach to energy has become more urgent than ever.

This white paper introduces Energy System Efficiency (ESE) as a critical pillar for ensuring energy security, affordability, and decarbonisation. A holistic focus on ESE will allow Europe to boost its industrial competitiveness, strengthen energy security, and lead the global effort against climate change.

Achieving Europe’s energy transition will require cooperation across sectors. Policymakers, industries, and civil society must collaborate to align legislation, investment strategies, technologies, infrastructure, and practices that will drive the future energy system. By adopting and implementing Energy System Efficiency, Europe can secure a sustainable, competitive, and carbon-neutral future by 2050, ensuring stronger energy security and a higher quality of life for all.

Read more in our White Paper: Energy System Efficiency for Competitiveness and Security of Energy Supply

 

 

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EU-ASE Welcomes the final approval of the EPBD

Today’s final approval of the EPBD by the Council marks an important step in the finalisation of the Green Deal. Despite the significant weakening of its original scope and ambition throughout the legislative process, this Directive demonstrates the continued commitment of the EU and its Member States to improving energy efficiency and sustainability in the buildings sector.

The revised EPBD introduces measures aimed at accelerating the transition to zero-emission buildings and improving the overall energy performance of the EU building stock. All new buildings in the EU will be required to be zero-emitting from 2030, with public buildings leading the way from 2028.

The final agreement does not include a mandate for harmonized energy performance certification across Member States, as originally proposed by the European Commission and supported by the European Parliament. Instead, each country will continue to use its own energy performance certificates (EPCs). While this is an unwelcome departure from the original harmonisation proposal, the agreement still underlines the importance of empowering consumers to make informed choices and incentivising energy-efficient investments.

Member States will have to renovate 16% of the worst performing buildings in the non-residential sector by 2030, rising to 26% by 2033. Member States have the flexibility to choose whether to achieve reductions in primary or final energy consumption. For the residential sector, Member States are required to set a national trajectory to reduce the average primary energy consumption of buildings by 16% by 2030 and by 20-22% by 2035. In particular, 55% of this reduction is expected to come from the renovation of the worst performing residential buildings. In addition, Member States have the flexibility to exempt certain categories of buildings, including historic and agricultural buildings, recognising their characteristics while ensuring that energy efficiency remains a priority.

Monica Frassoni, President of European Alliance to Save Energy, said: “While we welcome these achievements, especially in the current volatile and uncertain political and economic context, it is important to recognise the challenges that lie ahead. Swift and robust implementation of the revised EPBD will be critical to realising its full potential.”

Read the full press release here.

 

Media contact:
Luigi Petito 
Head of Secretariat 
info@euase.eu 

About us
The European Alliance to Save Energy (EU-ASE) is a cross-sectoral, business-led organisation that ensures that the voice of energy efficiency is heard across Europe. EU-ASE members have operations across the 27 Member States of the European Union, employ over 340.000 people in Europe and have an aggregated annual turnover of €115 billion.

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EU-ASE Manifesto 2024 – 2029: Prioritizing energy system efficiency for a sustainable and competitive Europe

As we approach the European Election in June 2024, we stand at a critical juncture. The decisions made by the next European Parliament and Commission will profoundly shape the trajectory of the European Green Deal.  

After the completion of the Fit For 55 legislation package, the challenge is now to implement it effectively to significantly contribute to our climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts.

At the European Alliance to Save Energy (EU-ASE), we believe that a climate-neutral Europe by 2050 hinges upon substantially reducing our energy need and prioritizing energy system efficiency as the cornerstone of our transition to a sustainable energy landscape characterized by the synergic combination between energy efficiency solutions, renewable energy sources and demand side flexibility.

An energy system efficiency approach connecting buildings, mobility, industrial ecosystems and renewable energy supply is the most beneficial and cost-effective way to promptly phase out fossil fuels and achieve the EU’s 2030, 2040, and 2050 climate goals. Embracing energy system efficiency will unlock multiple benefits for the European Union:

  • Lowering energy bills for citizens and operational costs for businesses, enhancing economic well-being while preserving natural resources and avoiding conflicts.
  • Shielding against future energy crises, price volatility and social unrest, ensuring a stable energy supply and bolstering security for citizens and businesses.
  • Accelerating the transition from fossil fuels to renewables by reducing overall energy demand and optimizing consumption.

We call upon the newly elected Members of the European Parliament and the new European Commission to undertake 5 actions.

Read more in our Manifesto 2024-2029: Prioritizing Energy System Efficiency for a Competitive and Sustainable Europe

 

 

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Europe needs a dedicated water strategy to tackle water scarcity while saving energy and reducing emissions

The next EU institutional framework must work on a European Water Strategy – a comprehensive, integrated response to tackle water scarcity, focusing on the synergies between water & energy use: the Water-Energy Nexus. 

Water scarcity is a growing concern in Europe, driven by climate change, population growth, urbanization, and inefficient water management practices. To combat this crisis effectively, an integrated approach is essential, leveraging the water-energy nexus to optimize water supply, treatment and use, while promoting energy savings, emission reductions and overall sustainability.

The next European institution framework must work on a European Water Strategy, a comprehensive, integrated response to tackle water scarcity focusing on the synergies between water and energy use.

To do so, for the next institutional term 2024-2029, the European Alliance to Save Energy urges policymakers to:

  • Complete and strengthen the EU and national policy and regulatory framework
  • Facilitate public-private partnerships
  • Provide finance for innovation, research and implementation
  • Forge responsibility to instigate change

 

Read the full European Water Strategy document here.

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Enhancing EU security & resilience via energy efficiency: 2023 in review

The EU-ASE 2023 Activity Report delves into the advocacy and outreach efforts of the European Alliance to Save Energy, aimed at enhancing energy efficiency in the EU’s energy policies and integrating the water-energy nexus into mainstream considerations.

2023 can be viewed as a continuation of the previous one, marked by escalating geopolitical issues and an energy crisis. Throughout the year, EU-ASE actively implemented its workplan by significantly contributing to energy efficiency debates and participating in ongoing negotiations on legislative dossiers.

We also organized the second edition of the European Energy Efficiency Day, bringing together high-profile speakers who contributed to discussions on energy efficiency in buildings, industrial ecosystems, and the electricity market. The event also delved into the skills agenda within the sector.

We continued our work on the implementation of a work programme which was structured around the main objectives of:

  • Boosting energy efficiency through EU policy and regulatory framework
  • Unleashing the energy savings potential of water efficiency in EU legislation
  • Smart, digital, and effective communication to achieve advocacy objectives

Read the full report here.

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