The ENSMOV consortium organised a webinar to discuss the proposed changes to the Energy Efficiency Directive energy savings obligation (Article 8, formerly 7). The proposals aim to align the obligation with the EU’s 55% net emissions reduction goal in 2030 and would inter alia in 2024:
– introduce a new obligation for all Member States to make new annual savings equivalent to 1.5% of final energy consumption each year until 2030, replacing the current requirement to make new annual energy savings of 0.8% each year;
– require Member States to achieve a proportion of their energy savings among people affected by energy poverty, vulnerable customers or people living in social housing;
– not count energy savings from policy measures regarding the direct combustion of fossil fuel technologies; and
– carry over outstanding energy savings in the case where targets are not met.
The EU Commission presented the proposed changes to the energy savings obligation, helping to explain the details of changes to the target, the calculation of savings and the ways in which the obligation will help to meet climate and equity goals. Our three panelists from the policymaking, industry and consumer communities made short initial responses before taking questions from the Chair and webinar attendees. A total of 142 participants attended the webinar.
Key points from the discussion
• all panelists welcomed the increase in ambition of the energy savings obligation target;
• the focus on alleviating energy poverty and addressing equity concerns in the Fit for 55 Package was appreciated, although concerns over inconsistencies in defining energy poverty persist;
• the ineligibility of savings from direct combustion of fossil fuel technologies was welcomed by Peter Bach as a necessary move en route to meeting the net-zero 2050 target. This provision generated a number of questions from the audience, for example regarding its application across different technology types; and
• compliance with the energy savings obligation, and in particular Annex V of the EED, was highlighted as a key area of concern, with panelists keen to see more adherence to additionality requirements and better measurement of energy savings.
Agenda (CET)
10.00 The ENSMOV project, Vlasis Oikonomou, IEECP
10.10 The proposals for Article 8 EED, Anne-Katherina Weidenbach, Policy Officer, EU Commission
10.30 Responses
Arianna Vitali, Secretary General, Coalition for Energy Savings
Marine Cornelis, Executive Director, Next Energy Consumer
Peter Bach, Chair, IEA Energy Efficiency Working Party and former President, eceee*
10.45 Panel discussion and audience Q&A
11.30 End of workshop
Chair: Samuel Thomas, RAP
* Peter Bach spoke in a personal capacity.