National energy efficiency plans "lack clarity"
(30 Jun 08) National energy efficiency plans required under the 2006 energy services directive "lack clarity", according to an analysis of the plans published on Friday.
The analysis shows that EU member states have taken an "impressive spectrum of measures" to improve efficiency, but it also highlights shortcomings. Most states do not clearly show how the measures relate to an EU indicative energy savings target of nine per cent between 2007 and 2016, authors say.
The analysis by think tank the Wuppertal Institute and consultancy Ecofys mirrors concerns that emerged in a European commission assessment published earlier this year. The plans were due by June last year. Portugal still has not complied with the deadline.
In most cases, it was also unclear whether the actions detailed in the plans were additional measures or whether they would have been taken anyway as part of a normal course of action, the analysis shows. And a number of plans did not explain how member states intended to finance them.
The findings show that energy efficiency is "not taken seriously enough", according to a group of European and national parliamentarians who commissioned the analysis. Last month European leaders stressed again the importance of energy efficiency.
Twelve plans will be analysed in greater detail over the next three months to identify best practice policy approaches. These will be distributed across the EU to feed into the next round of plans for 2011.
Follow-up: Energy efficiency watch homepage, plus press release, report and appendix (analysis by member state).
Published with permission of ENDS Europe Daily
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