Energy efficiency
Combatting energy poverty needs local community engagement, says EESC
Est. 6minFor many Europeans, flipping a light switch or turning the faucet for warm water is an unremarkable action, yet around 42 million people across Europe could not warm their homes effectively, the EESC is demanding more action.
Europe’s power sector pushes back against Brussels’ overregulation
Est. 4minTriggered by the prospect of new rules for electricity transformers, European power sector representatives have written to the European Commission highlighting their wider issues with the EU’s approach to regulation.
EU capitals need political will to deliver on green buildings law, say energy experts
Est. 5minEU member states will need technical support to implement the newly agreed Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, but political will across the 27 capitals will be crucial to deliver on the new sustainable buildings law.
Tech-driven REPowerEU needs a boost says McKinsey
Est. 5minSuccess for the EU’s REPowerEU strategy will make Europe’s buildings more energy efficient and reduce Europe's reliance on Russian fossil fuels, but McKinsey says tech scale-up is needed to reach targets.
UEFA’s on the ball with EURO 2024 climate agenda strategy
Est. 5minUEFA and the German Football Association (DFB) hope to deliver an environmentally conscious EURO 2024, amid concerns surrounding the continuation of major sporting events in the age of climate change.
Paris, gold for the greenest of Games?
Est. 5minFrance is aiming for gold in sustainability at this year’s Olympics, promising to host ‘the greenest’ Games in history this summer. But many hurdles remain.
Massive electrification needed to reach 2050 climate goals, says new EDF report
Est. 5minMass electrification of light transport, buildings, and support for electrification of industrial processes will be essential, according to a new 2050 scenario.
Consumers must be at heart of EU energy-saving interoperability efforts, says VizLore director
Est. 9minEurope has ample new technologies to improve energy efficiency and save CO2, but getting those technologies connected and used efficiently is problematic, said Milenko Tošić, director of innovation at VizLore Labs Foundation.
Getting smarter? Europe struggling with smart energy efficiency interconnectivity
Est. 8minOne of the biggest obstacles to deploying energy efficiency solutions is the part of it you can’t see – the lack of data interoperability between various components. Europe is struggling to ensure smart energy efficiency is truly interconnected.
Departing from coal: Poland’s new energy roadmap
Est. 4minThe election of a new government in Poland has enabled this Central European country to revive its ambitions in terms of energy transition and to meet European targets.
Transforming our buildings: Europe’s path to sustainability
Est. 5minThe cities of Amsterdam, Stockholm and Nantes offer good examples of how meaningful progress towards decarbonising the building sector can be achieved, while advancing the EU's broader climate objectives, writes Irene García.
The US and Saudi Arabia are taking COP28 pledges seriously
Est. 5minThe US and Saudi Arabia have reduced investment in oil and gas supply, putting consuming countries in front of their responsibilities by forcing them to act and deliver on their COP28 pledges, writes Thierry Bros.
Brussels clears French ‘green’ state aid worth over €8 billion in just one month
Est. 3minIn the space of just one month, the European Commission has approved more than €8 billion in French state aid to decarbonise industry and develop renewable energies, according to EU figures released this week.
The Brief – Another lost year for energy efficiency
Est. 6minAt COP28, international leaders once again fell short of embracing energy efficiency targets, representing perhaps the biggest missed opportunity of the decade. Meet energy efficiency, the magical millions of hard-to-grasp levers that allow us to do more while consuming less energy. …
Five hidden gems in the EU’s recast buildings directive
Est. 7minLack of finance remains the most frequently reported reason why building owners don’t upgrade their homes to a more energy-efficient one. Peter Sweatman lists five “hidden gems” in the recast EU Buildings Directive which can deliver this.
As global clean energy champion, China has ‘responsibility’ to lead at COP28: IEA
Est. 7minChina did the world “a big favour” by bringing down the cost of clean technologies like solar panels, said Fatih Birol, the chief of the International Energy Agency (IEA). But with increased economic clout also comes responsibility, he told Euractiv ahead of the COP28 international climate summit in Dubai.
EV chargers, heat pumps may be curtailed in Germany as of 2024
Est. 3minGermany’s residential grid operators will be empowered to restrict the flow of power to heat pumps and electric vehicle (EV) chargers from 2024 in order to preserve the stability of the grid, which is suffering from chronic underinvestment.
Electricity market reform must rethink energy efficiency for renewables era
Est. 4minThe thinking around energy efficiency is still stuck in the fossil fuel era, says Sofie Irgens. We must move on from focusing on fuel economy and ramp up discussions on electrification, flexibility and reducing demand, she argues.
Europe’s buildings are off track to climate neutrality
Est. 5minNew data shows the urgency to renovate buildings across Europe, writes Oliver Rapf.
Portugal urged to reduce energy support measures
Est. 3minPortugal must reduce energy support measures as soon as possible this year and next, according to a European Commission report published on Tuesday, highlighting Portugal’s limited progress in implementing the Commission’s budgetary recommendation.
Will EU’s buildings directive bring benefits for low-income households?
Est. 6minThe Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) provides an essential gateway for citizen participation in the energy system, bringing cheaper bills to low-income households through old-fashioned energy efficiency, writes Louise Sunderland.
EU countries behind schedule on 2030 energy efficiency goals: report
Est. 3minOnly 16 EU countries have met a June deadline to submit updated National Energy and Climate Plans to the European Commission for the period running up to 2030 – and none of them are fully compliant with the EU’s latest energy efficiency goals, according to a new report.
Finalising the EU’s electricity market redesign for the benefit of small consumers
Est. 4minA reform of the European electricity market is needed to give small consumers access to continuous, more affordable energy that is as carbon-free as possible. The introduction, for example, of a mechanism that removes from the mix carbon-free power plants that are too costly, will help reduce prices for customers, writes Thierry Bros.
Data centres brace for new EU energy reporting obligations
Est. 5minThe European Commission is ramping up industry reporting obligations in order to ensure the EU meets its stated goal of making data centres climate neutral by 2030.