55% climate target enabled by stronger energy savings, but more is possible

The Commission’s 2030 Climate Target Plan is building on significant energy efficiency improvements of 36%. However, it falls short of tapping the full potential which stands at 40% efficiency.

Brussels, 17 September 2020 – The Coalition welcomes the Commission’s plan to increase Europe’s climate target to 55% by 2030.

The plan confirms that improving energy efficiency by renovating buildings and clean transport is the bedrock of climate action. A decreased energy demand will enable further emission reductions and keep energy costs low. This will help vulnerable households, improve living conditions and create local jobs.

The Commission’s modelling finds that energy efficiency has to be increased from the current target of 32.5% for final and primary energy to 36-37% and 39-41% respectively. Primary energy efficiency increases more due to a higher share of renewables in the power generation. The modelling has not looked into the cost-effective energy savings potentials, which stand at 40% for final energy.

‘We are pleased that the Commission wants to increase the energy efficiency target in next year’s revision of the Energy Efficiency Directive’, says Stefan Scheuer, Secretary General of The Coalition for Energy Savings. ‘The closer we get to the full savings potential, the better for a fast recovery and maximum resilience.’

The 2030 Climate Target Plan confirms that Member States’ contributions fall short of achieving the 2030 EU’s energy efficiency target by 3 percentage points. The European Parliament earlier this year already asked for strengthening enforcement through setting binding national targets for energy efficiency. Out of its three energy and climate targets – greenhouse gas emission, energy efficiency and renewable energy – the EU is failing only the one for which national contributions are not set in the law: energy efficiency.

‘National contributions to the EU target have to become binding,’ says Stefan Scheuer. ‘It will help Member States to increase their efforts to renovate buildings and boost clean transport.’

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Fraunhofer ISI: Study on Energy Savings Scenarios 2050