EU wants to boost energy savings

Brussels - EU policymakers are considering a goal to increase European Union energy efficiency by between 30 and 35% by 2030 as part of efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions, reduce fuel bills and improve energy security, sources say.

The crisis in Ukraine, transit nation for around half of the natural gas that Russia ships to Europe, has raised the importance of using less energy as one of the EU's options to curb the bloc's need for imported fuel.

Two EU sources said documents circulating within the Commission put forward a target range for efficiency savings of between 30 and 35% that would be binding across the European Union.

Renovation

That compares with a goal of saving 20% that would be achieved by 2020 through pursuing existing policies, based on measures such as making buildings more energy efficient.

But some campaigners say the suggested 2030 range is too weak.

A report published by Ecofys, consultants frequently used by the Commission, said on Tuesday that buildings in the EU used 61% of all the gas that was imported into the bloc and renovation could curb the sector's gas use by 95% by 2050, as well as cutting emissions.

Knauf Insulation, part of the European Alliance to Save Energy, said it was worried the Commission's concern with protecting its Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) had added to reluctance for a more ambitious goal.

Efficiency

Reduced energy use could add to a surplus of permits to pollute that has depressed the EU's flagship tool for curbing climate emissions.

"Given the severity of the situation we are faced with in Ukraine, it would be absolutely wrong to address the problems of the Trading Scheme by placing an artificial ceiling on energy efficiency," said Barry Lynham, head of strategy at Knauf Insulation.

The EU executive has already outlined two climate and energy goals for 2030 - to cut greenhouse gases by 40% cent compared to 1990 levels and to raise the share of renewable energy from 20 to to 27% by 2020.

When it mapped out those goals in January, the Commission said it was not ready to announce an efficiency target because it was assessing the impact of a law agreed in 2012 to improve the bloc's energy savings, which so far have lagged behind the 2020 target.