A binding energy savings target for 2030

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As communicated by Ceced, member of the Coalition for Energy Savings, a research by Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research (Fraunhofer ISI), on behalf of the Coalition, has shown that the EU has a 41% cost-effective end-use energy savings potential for 2030. The cost-effective savings potential is defined as the savings that can be realised through energy efficiency improvement measures that deliver over their lifetime net financial benefits for the individual actor making the investment, in addition to many macro-economic and other societal co-benefits. Tapping this potential would imply a reduction of primary energy consumption of between 46% and 50% compared to the 2009 baseline or 2005 levels and leads to a reduction of 49% to 61% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2030 compared to 1990 levels. Realising untapped cost-effective energy savings potentials in the EU would: boost competitiveness, due to lower energy costs and increased industrial efficiency (households and industry would receive net benefits of over €239 billion annually by 2030 in lower energy bills); reduce GHG emissions, enabling the EU to step up its fight against climate change. Many energy efficiency policies are in place, including the Energy Performance in Buildings Directive (EPBD), the Ecodesign Directive, CO2 standards for transport vehicles and the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED). However, there is little to ensure a high level of commitment and accountability from Member States to achieve the EU’s 20% target for energy savings. Even the 1.5% annual binding savings target in the EED is somewhat limited because of excessive exemptions. The other two EU targets for 2020 for renewable energy and GHG emissions are binding, thus given priority and on track to be met. A legally binding target for energy efficiency is needed to ensure a high level of ambition and effort in Member States, and to allow sufficient flexibility for the mix of tools and instruments to be tailored at national level. The Coalition’s proposal for a 41% energy savings target is supported by the detailed bottom-up assessment of cost-effective potentials in the different economic sectors realised by Fraunhofer ISI and refers therefore to commercially available and economically justified actions. The Coalition for Energy Savings unites business, professionals, local authorities, trade unions and civil society associations in making the case for a European energy policy that places a much greater, more meaningful emphasis on energy efficiency and savings. Coalition members represent more than 400 associations, 150 companies, 15 million supporters, more than 2 million employees, 1,000 cities and towns in 30 countries in Europe.