In December 2023, the European Commission assessed the draft updated National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) submitted by 21 Member States. If the analysis of the plans by the Commission proves to be “generally positive”, it pointed out some shortcomings.
Indeed, the sum of the total national contributions submitted to reach the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) recast target of a 11.7% reduction of the energy consumption would not put Member States on a trajectory to fulfill their commitment, only achieving a 5.8% accumulated reduction. The Commission also stressed out the fact that policies and measures remain for most Member States not detailed enough in terms of funding, costs and impacts on energy and emission savings.
Building on this assessment, EFIEES also reviewed the draft updated NECPs and found that energy management solutions as well as Energy Performance Contracts (EnPCs), provided by Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) are not sufficiently integrated into the plans. We believe that Members States should better integrate these solutions in their draft updated NECPs, notably to support buildings renovation policies, to decarbonise heating and cooling strategies, and to ensure that the new energy efficiency and energy savings targets introduced by the EED recast will be reached.
To help Member States make the best possible use of energy management solutions and achieve their objectives, EFIEES recommends the following actions:
⭐ Improve the uptake of energy management solutions and Energy Performance Contracts (EnPCs) in the public sector
Energy performance contracts guarantee a level of performance, often in the long-term, while integrating energy management solutions. Combining private and public investments, these contracts can also increase the impact of public expenses by allowing a very much needed additional private financing.
⭐ Improve the uptake of energy management solutions and Energy Performance Contracts (EnPCs) in the private sector
Energy performance contracts provide long-term visibility and contractually guaranteed optimised energy consumption overtime to entities that otherwise might not engage in energy efficiency improvements. Connecting homes and buildings to efficient district heating and cooling networks (DHN) is another way to increase energy performance in the long-term.
⭐ Build up awareness of energy management solutions and workers’ skills
Educating consumers about energy management solutions, about EnPCs, as well as about the impacts of their energy behaviours and choices, can greatly participate in reducing their energy consumption. Moreover, the energy efficiency sector is in demand of workers in many positions. Setting up measures in the NECPS to train skilled workers for the sector will be crucial to deliver energy efficiency improvements.