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Adopted text

Energy efficiency (recast) ***I

TA-9-2022-0315 · P9_TA(2022)0315 · PE703.281

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Parliament's amended version of a proposed directive on energy efficiency (recast) sets a binding Union target to cut final energy consumption by at least 40% and primary energy consumption by 42.5% in 2030, compared with 2007 projections. It requires Member States to set binding national contributions with 2025 and 2027 milestones, and to apply the energy efficiency first principle across policy, planning and investment decisions. It obliges the public sector to cut its final energy consumption by at least 2% a year and to renovate at least 3% of the floor area of public and social buildings annually. It sets cumulative end-use energy savings of 0.8% a year from 2021 to 2023 and 2% a year from 2024 to 2030, with a minimum share of savings among people in energy poverty. It requires energy management systems or audits for larger enterprises, data centre reporting, metering and billing rules, and rules on heating and cooling supply and cogeneration.

Key points

  1. Member States must collectively cut final energy consumption by at least 40% and primary energy consumption by 42.5% in 2030, so consumption is no more than 740 Mtoe and 960 Mtoe.
  2. Each Member State must set binding national contributions for final and primary energy consumption, with milestones in 2025 and 2027, using the formula in Annex I.
  3. The Commission assesses whether national contributions are sufficient and, if not, proposes corrected contributions within two months of notification.
  4. Member States must apply the energy efficiency first principle in energy and non-energy sectors, adopt a cost-benefit methodology and report on its application.
  5. The total final energy consumption of all public bodies combined must fall by at least 2% each year, and Member States must list the public bodies contributing.
  6. At least 3% of the total floor area of heated or cooled public buildings and buildings for social purposes must be renovated each year to nearly zero-energy or zero-emission buildings.
  7. Public contracts and concessions above the procurement thresholds must purchase only products, services, buildings and works with high energy-efficiency performance and apply the energy efficiency first principle.
  8. Member States must achieve cumulative end-use energy savings of 0.8% a year from 2021 to 2023 and 2% a year from 2024 to 2030, with Cyprus and Malta at 0.24% for 2021 to 2023.
  9. A minimum share of energy savings must be achieved among people affected by energy poverty, low-income households, vulnerable customers and people in social housing.
  10. Enterprises above 100 TJ average annual consumption must implement a certified energy management system from 2024, and those above 10 TJ must undergo an energy audit.
  11. Data centres with installed IT power demand of at least 100 kW must publish information annually, and those above 100 kW must use waste heat unless not feasible.
  12. Efficient district heating and cooling must meet progressively stricter renewable, waste heat and cogeneration shares, reaching only renewable energy and waste heat from 1 January 2050.

Who is affected

  • Member States, which must set binding national contributions, transpose the rules and report progress.
  • Public bodies, which must cut energy use by 2% a year and renovate 3% of their building floor area.
  • Enterprises, which must implement energy management systems or undergo energy audits above set consumption thresholds.
  • Data centre owners and operators, which must publish energy performance information and use waste heat.
  • Vulnerable customers and people in energy poverty, who must benefit from priority energy efficiency measures.

Figures and deadlines

  • At least 40% reduction in final energy consumption and 42.5% in primary energy consumption in 2030.
  • Final energy consumption no more than 740 Mtoe and primary energy consumption no more than 960 Mtoe in 2030.
  • Public sector final energy consumption reduced by at least 2% each year.
  • At least 3% of the total floor area of public and social buildings renovated each year.
  • New savings of 0.8% a year from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2023 and 2% a year from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2030.
  • Cyprus and Malta: new savings of 0.24% a year from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2023.
  • Energy management system required above 100 TJ from 1 January 2024 and above 70 TJ from 1 January 2027.
  • Energy audit required above 10 TJ from 1 January 2024 and above 6 TJ from 1 January 2027.

Legal basis: Article 194(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.