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News 21 April 2022

Energy Efficiency Policy Brief assesses status of the sector and proposes pathways for a better energy system

The latest Policy Brief looks at the Energy Efficiency Directive (recast). The proposed energy efficiency recast Directive lays down rules designed to implement the “energy efficiency first” principle across all sectors, remove barriers in the energy market and overcome market failures that impede efficiency in the supply and use of energy. It also advocates for the establishment of indicative national energy efficiency targets between 2020 and 2030.

The Brief presents the main provisions of the EU Commission’s communication, followed by a broader analysis of the main challenges for energy research in the coming years. Despite the attention given to the topic, the level of investments linked to improvements in energy efficiency, especially in businesses, does not reflect its importance. The objective is to suggest pathways that could be explored to maximise the directive’s impact.

Some of the key challenges identified are:

  • Stimulate more investments in energy efficiency in the industrial sector. A reduction of 15% in the global energy demand in 2040 could be possible by implementing efficiency opportunities
  • Promote R&D efforts towards specific technology developments that can reduce specific energy consumption needs in industrial processes
  • Create greater demand for energy efficiency solutions in the industry
  • Engage all parts of the value chain by, for example, promoting energy efficiency partnerships with all businesses’ branches and sectoral plans for energy reduction towards 2050.
  • Deploy energy flexibility solutions (microgrid, smart energy tariffs, etc.);

Access the previously published policy briefs here.