EU energy ministers back EC plan to save 20% energy by 2020

Brussels (Platts)--23Nov2006

European Union energy ministers backed a European Commission plan to save
up to 20% of the EU's final energy use by 2020 at an EU energy council meeting
in Brussels Thursday.
"All member states are committed to increasing energy efficiency at
national and EU levels," said Finland's industry minister, Mauri Pekkarinen,
representing the Finnish presidency of the EU, during a broadcast debate on
energy efficiency and renewables.
Ministers focused on stronger efforts in transport, energy-using
equipment, consumer behavior, research and development, and in buildings'
energy performance as the five priority energy efficiency actions.
The actions come from the EC's October energy efficiency action plan,
which suggested more than 75 measures to be carried out over the next six
years to help the EC save 20% of its final energy use by 2020, compared with
business as usual.
But ministers were cautious on the proposals for new or expanded legal
measures in the plan. They wanted first to see existing laws fully
implemented, respect for the subsidiarity principle and voluntary agreements
considered where appropriate.
For example, they invited the EC to assess the impact of the EU law on
buildings' energy performance before expanding its scope or including minimum
performance requirements for new or renovated buildings.
The EC's plan identified energy transformation as a key area where
savings could be made. In formal conclusions adopted Thursday, ministers noted
"considerable differences" between member states' efficiency in energy
generation, transmission and distribution networks. These required "a
differentiated yet focused approach, with specific targeted actions where
necessary."
The conclusions stressed the importance of using the most energy
efficient technology to replace the EU's aging power and heating plant over
the next few decades, citing in particular highly-efficient combined heat and
power, district heating and cooling, and waste heat recovery.

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