At the end of last November, the European Parliament 's Committee on Industry and Energy laid the groundwork for new directives to regulate the energy efficiency and renewable energy sectors . This step is crucial to ensuring a fair and sustainable energy transition in all European Union member states.
New targets for improving energy efficiency and increasing the share of renewable energy in the European energy mix have been approved and will be voted on by Parliament in early 2018. These targets also address the framework for action needed to combat climate change and reduce Europe's dependence on fossil fuels.
Goals for energy efficiency and renewable energies
Consumption savings
The new targets set by Parliament are more ambitious than those previously established by the Commission. One of the most significant is achieving 40% energy savings by 2030 across the European Union, 10% more than already approved. This target is distributed among each member state, so each will set its own national targets. Using 2005 energy consumption data as a reference, the maximum values ​​allowed under this new criterion would be 1.132 Mtoe of primary energy and 849 Mtoe of final energy.
Furthermore, in the transport sector, it is established that at least 12% of the energy used must come from renewable sources, contributing not only to the reduction of CO2 emissions, but also to decreasing dependence on fossil fuels.
Favor renewable sources
Another key aspect for achieving these objectives is the promotion of renewable energy sources . It is essential that Member States develop programs and support measures that incentivize the participation of electricity from stable and predictable renewable sources in the electricity market. Furthermore, it is crucial to guarantee regulatory stability to attract investment in this sector, especially in markets like Spain, where regulatory changes have generated uncertainty among investors.
In this respect, regulatory certainty is essential to attract long-term investment, allowing renewable energy projects to be implemented without obstacles. Unfortunately, in several EU countries, including Spain, this lack of stability has led companies and investors to file lawsuits demanding millions in compensation for losses resulting from unstable policies.
Self-consumption
One of the key strategies for Europe's energy future is promoting self-consumption . The aim is to make it easier for citizens to produce and use their own energy without financial or regulatory penalties. This measure includes the possibility of installing energy storage systems, allowing consumers to store excess energy generated, for example, through solar panels.
Unfortunately, in Spain, the well-known "sun tax" prevents consumers from fully benefiting from these technologies. This tax, imposed by the People's Party under the Ministry of José Manuel Soria, has hindered the advancement of self-consumption in the country.
José Manuel Soria and the tax on the sun
Former Industry Minister José Manuel Soria justified this tax by arguing that self-consumption users should also contribute to the maintenance of the electricity grid, an infrastructure that "we all pay for." In his view, allowing self-consumption without a financial contribution to the grid would harm other users. However, this argument has been heavily criticized by experts and detractors, especially after the accusations and subsequent resignation of the minister due to his involvement with offshore companies in Panama.
Renewable energy cooperatives
Another measure that promotes citizen participation in the energy transition is the creation of renewable energy cooperatives . These cooperatives allow citizens to join together to install renewable energy sources in their communities, such as photovoltaic solar panels or mini-wind turbines, and share the surplus energy generated with their neighbors.
A prime example of this movement in Spain is Som Energia , a non-profit cooperative that promotes the consumption of green energy. Its mission is to foster a 100% renewable and sustainable energy model by generating and selling energy exclusively from renewable sources.
The future of energy efficiency in Europe
Energy efficiency has proven to be a key tool for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and moving towards a more sustainable future. Statistics from the International Energy Agency (IEA) show that renewable energy will continue to grow globally and is expected to contribute up to 43% to the global electricity supply by 2030.
Europe cannot be left behind in this race; therefore, in addition to continuing to promote renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, technologies such as energy efficiency in construction , the use of high-efficiency motors in industry, and the implementation of frequency converters in production processes must be adopted.
Spain, for example, through the application of frequency converters , could save more than 65 TWh of energy per year, which represents approximately a quarter of its total annual electricity demand.
These advances will be accompanied by the development of emerging technologies such as green hydrogen , which will undoubtedly play a crucial role in future energy efficiency. Producing hydrogen from renewable sources like solar and wind power will lead to greater decarbonization of critical sectors such as transportation and heavy industry.
The European Parliament will continue to advocate for measures that ensure compliance with the Paris Agreement , which aims to keep the increase in global temperature below 2°C above pre-industrial levels. These goals will only be achievable if we continue to invest in electrification, self-consumption, and the implementation of new environmental solutions.