EU Energy Efficiency Directive 2012

The Energy Efficiency Directive 2012/27/EU (abbreviated EED) is a European Union directive which mandates energy efficiency improvements within the European Union.[1] It was approved on 25 October 2012 and entered into force on 4 December 2012.[2]: 2  The directive introduces legally binding measures to encourage efforts to use energy more efficiently in all stages and sectors of the supply chain. It establishes a common framework for the promotion of energy efficiency within the EU in order to meet its energy efficiency headline target of 20% by 2020. It also paves the way for further improvements thereafter.[3]

Directive 2012/27/EU
European Union directive
TitleEnergy Efficiency Directive
Made byEuropean Parliament and Council
Journal referenceL 315, 14 November 2012, pp. 1–56
Other legislation
Replaces2004/8/EC and 2006/32/EC
Amends2009/125/EC and 2010/30/EU
Amended by2018/2002/EC

The directive provides for the establishment of indicative national energy efficiency targets for 2020. Member states were to have submitted their National Energy Efficiency Action Plans (NEEAP) by 30 April 2014, outlining the measures they have implemented to improve energy efficiency and their expected and/or achieved energy savings. In addition, member states are required to report annually on progress toward their national targets. The policy requirements in the directive are minimum obligations and member states may introduce more stringent measures.[3]

The Energy Efficiency Directive 2012/27/EU was preceded by the Energy Services Directive 2006/32/EC.[4][5] This earlier directive contained a target of a 9% reduction in energy usage within 9 years of the directive coming into force. The earlier directive also required EU members to submit National Energy Efficiency Action Plans, with the first plan to be lodged by 30 June 2007.

On 23 July 2014, the European Commission announced a new target of a 30% improvement in energy efficiency by 2030.[6]

Development

Documents leaked in mid-2012 show that the United Kingdom repeatedly fought to water down key measures during the development of the directive and forced some measures to become voluntary rather than mandatory.[7] As a result, a new version of the directive allows member states to set their own energy efficiency targets, instead of the original requirement of a mandatory EU-wide target of 20% improvement.[8]

Measures

The directive promotes rules to remove barriers in energy markets and to overcome market failures that may impede the uptake of energy efficiency. Under the directive, the public sector is to play an exemplary role and consumers will have a right to know how much energy they consume.[3]

The following categories are covered by the directive:[3]

  • energy efficiency targets
  • building renovation
  • an exemplary role for public buildings
  • energy efficiency obligation schemes
  • energy audits and energy management systems
  • metering and billing information systems and the right to access this data
  • consumer information and empowerment
  • promotion of efficiency in heating and cooling
  • energy transformation, transmission, and distribution
  • availability of qualification, accreditation, and certification schemes
  • information and training
  • energy services
  • an energy efficiency national fund, financing, and technical support
  • other measures to promote energy efficiency

National Energy Efficiency Action Plans and Annual Reports

Individual National Energy Efficiency Action Plans (NEEAP) for 2014 and Annual Reports for 2016 are available for download.[4] Some national action plans have Wikipedia articles as well:

Reception and effectiveness

A 2014 study finds that, despite the directive being technically complex and lacking binding targets, it is an improvement over earlier European Union policy on energy efficiency. Notwithstanding, the document is weakened by the number of exemptions and the number of passages it contains requiring interpretation. The process of implementation was also subject to problems.[9]: 3–4 

In June 2014 the UK government directed through a Procurement Policy Note issued to all government departments that they were to comply after 5 June 2014 with the energy efficiency standards of Article 6 and Annex III to the Directive when purchasing goods and services and when renting or purchasing buildings, as long as this is "consistent with achieving value for money, economic feasibility, wider sustainability, technical suitability and ensuring sufficient competition".[10] Further information issued in January 2015 made clear that "the obligation under Article 6 is a qualified one" and that public bodies "need only buy to the standards set out in Annex III of the Directive where this is cost effective".[11] Public bodies in the wider public sector outside of central government were "encouraged" to follow the central government example.[11]

A 2016 study examined the treatment of article 7 of the directive[1]: 15  by each of the 28 member states. Titled Energy efficiency obligation schemes, this key article requires that countries "implement energy efficiency obligations and/or alternative policy instruments in order to reach a reduction in final energy use of 1.5% per year".[12]: 1  To fulfill this requirement, the member states have proposed very different policy measures and adopted very different calculation methods and monitoring and verification schemes. The study analyses each national action plan and estimates whether the projected savings are likely to materialise and whether these will be sufficient to meet the article 7 target.[12]

Future developments

Directive 2018/2002/EC was adopted on 21 December 2018. It amends this one.[13]

See also

Further reading
  • Directive 2012/27/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on energy efficiency, amending Directives 2009/125/EC and 2010/30/EU and repealing Directives 2004/8/EC and 2006/32/EC. Brussels, Belgium: European Council. 14 November 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2016.

References
  1. Directive 2012/27/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on energy efficiency, amending Directives 2009/125/EC and 2010/30/EU and repealing Directives 2004/8/EC and 2006/32/EC. Brussels, Belgium: European Council. 14 November 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  2. Understanding the Energy Efficiency Directive. Stockholm, Sweden: European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (eceee). 13 December 2013. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  3. "Directive 2012/27/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on energy efficiency". Build Up – The European portal for energy efficiency in buildings. 14 November 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  4. "National Energy Efficiency Action Plans and Annual Reports". Brussels, Belgium: European Commission. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  5. Directive 2006/32/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2006 on energy end-use efficiency and energy services and repealing Council Directive 93/76/EEC. Brussels, Belgium: European Council. 27 April 2006. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  6. Harvey, Fiona (23 July 2014). "EU agrees to improve energy efficiency 30% by 2030". The Guardian. London, UK. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  7. Harvey, Fiona (3 June 2012). "Leaked documents reveal UK fight to dilute EU green energy targets". The Guardian. London, UK. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  8. Harvey, Fiona (14 June 2012). "UK government waters down EU energy efficiency deal". The Guardian. London, UK. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  9. Zgajewski, Tania (June 2014). Energy efficiency: the ever neglected priority of the European energy strategy — Egmont Paper 66 (PDF). Gent, Belgium: Academia Press (for Egmont – The Royal Institute for International Relations). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 May 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  10. Cabinet Office, Procurement Policy Note – Implementing Article 6 of the Energy Efficiency DirectiveAction Note 07/14, section 7, published 3 June 2014, accessed 17 March 2023
  11. Crown Commercial Service, Procurement Policy Note – Implementing Article 6 of the Energy Efficiency Directive: further information. Information Note 01/15, published 19 January 2015, accessed 17 March 2023
  12. Rosenow, Jan; Leguijt, Cor; Pato, Zsuzsanna; Eyre, Nick; Fawcet, Tina (1 April 2016). "An ex-ante evaluation of the EU Energy Efficiency Directive – Article 7". Economics of Energy & Environmental Policy. 5 (2). doi:10.5547/2160-5890.5.2.jros. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  13. "New Renewables, Energy Efficiency and Governance legislation comes into force on 24 December 2018". European Commission. Brussels, Belgium. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
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