EU Council adopts Energy Efficiency Directive
The EU Council on Tuesday adopted new rules aimed at reducing final energy consumption in the EU by 11.7% in 2030, but Member States will be given flexibility in reaching the target, a press release from the Spanish Presidency said, according to Agerpres.
Member states will collectively ensure a reduction in final energy consumption of at least 11.7% in 2030, compared to the energy consumption forecast for 2030 made in 2020. This means an upper limit of EU final energy consumption of 763 million tonnes of oil equivalent and 993 million tonnes of oil equivalent for primary consumption.
The consumption limit will be binding for Member States collectively, while the target for primary energy consumption will be indicative. Final energy consumption is the energy consumed by end-users, while primary energy consumption also includes the amount used to produce and supply energy.
All Member States will contribute to the overall EU target. They will set indicative national contributions and trajectories towards the target in their national integrated energy and climate plans (INECPs). Updated draft INECPs were due in June 2023, and final plans will be due in 2024.
