The European Union (EU) is committed to achieving ambitious energy efficiency targets in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve a sustainable energy system. Each EU member state is responsible for implementing its own energy policies and meeting the targets set by the EU. In this article, we will explore how different countries in the EU are addressing energy efficiency challenges.
Since the introduction of REPowerEU, old goals have been abandoned and a new and ambitious goal of 45% renewable energy has been set for every member state.
We can see how each member state is currently doing and how much improvement is going to be needed in the following chart:
Percentage of renewable energy used in EU member states – Source: EUROSTAT
Germany
Germany is widely regarded as a leader in energy efficiency in the EU, and is also a huge consumer of all types of energy. The country has set ambitious targets to reduce energy consumption by 50% by 2050 compared to 2008 levels. One key policy measure in Germany is the Energiewende, which aims to transition the country to a low-carbon energy system.
The policy includes measures such as expanding renewable energy sources, improving energy efficiency in buildings, and phasing out nuclear power. Germany has also implemented a range of financial incentives for energy efficiency, such as subsidies for building renovations and tax credits for energy-efficient vehicles.
Germany is widely considered to be a leader in solar energy, with the country having made significant investments in the development and deployment of solar photovoltaic (PV) technology. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), Germany had 49.9 gigawatts (GW) of installed solar PV capacity as of 2020, making it the third-largest solar market in the world after China and the United States.
Furthermore, Germany had 674 watts of installed solar PV capacity per capita in 2020, the highest of any country in the European Union. The country’s success in solar energy has been attributed to a range of factors, including supportive government policies, strong public and private sector investment, and a robust research and development ecosystem.
France
France has also set ambitious energy efficiency targets. The country aims to reduce energy consumption by 20% by 2030 compared to 2012 levels. To achieve this goal, France has implemented a range of policies and initiatives, such as the “Energy Transition for Green Growth” law, which aims to increase renewable energy sources, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve energy efficiency.
The law includes measures such as requiring all new buildings to be low-energy by 2020 and all existing buildings to be renovated to meet energy efficiency standards by 2050. France has also implemented a range of financial incentives for energy efficiency, such as tax credits for building renovations and subsidies for renewable energy installations.
France is also a leader in the development and deployment of nuclear power, which is not a renewable energy source, but is considered a low-carbon energy source due to its low greenhouse gas emissions. France has one of the largest nuclear power industries in the world and generates about 70% of its electricity from nuclear power plants.
However, France has also made significant investments in renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power in recent years.
Sweden
Sweden is widely regarded as a leader in energy efficiency and has set ambitious targets to become a fossil fuel-free society by 2045. To achieve this goal, Sweden has implemented a range of policies and initiatives, such as the “Environmental Objectives” policy, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase renewable energy sources, and improve energy efficiency.
The policy includes measures such as requiring all new buildings to be nearly zero-energy by 2020 and all existing buildings to be renovated to meet energy efficiency standards by 2050. Sweden has also implemented a range of financial incentives for energy efficiency, such as subsidies for building renovations and tax credits for energy-efficient vehicles.
Sweden is a leader in hydropower, which accounted for about 44% of the country’s electricity production in 2020. The country has a large number of hydroelectric power plants, particularly in the northern parts of the country.
Austria
Austria is a member of the European Union and has also been actively working to address energy efficiency challenges. The country has set a target to increase the share of renewable energy in gross final energy consumption to 34% by 2020, and to reduce energy consumption by 20% by 2020 compared to 2005 levels.
To achieve these targets, Austria has implemented a range of policies and initiatives, such as the “Austrian Energy Efficiency Act” and the “Austrian Climate and Energy Strategy”. These plans include measures such as promoting energy efficiency in buildings, increasing the use of renewable energy sources, and promoting sustainable transport. Austria has also implemented financial incentives for energy efficiency, such as subsidies for building renovations and tax credits for energy-efficient appliances.
Austria has made significant progress in reducing its greenhouse gas emissions, largely due to its strong focus on renewable energy and energy efficiency. In 2019, renewable energy accounted for approximately 36% of the country’s gross final energy consumption, and Austria has also achieved a 28% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions since 2005.
In addition to these measures, Austria is also part of several EU initiatives aimed at promoting energy efficiency and sustainable energy practices. For example, Austria is a member of the European Energy Efficiency Fund, which provides financing for energy efficiency projects across the EU.
Italy
Italy has set a target to reduce energy consumption by 17% by 2020 compared to 2005 levels. To achieve this goal, Italy has implemented a range of policies and initiatives, such as the “National Energy Efficiency Action Plan” and the “National Strategy for Sustainable Development”.
These plans include measures such as promoting energy efficiency in buildings, increasing the use of renewable energy sources, and promoting sustainable transport. Italy has also implemented financial incentives for energy efficiency, such as tax credits for building renovations and subsidies for renewable energy installations.
Italy is the second-best leading country in the use of solar power, with a total installed capacity of over 21 GW as of 2020. The country has a favorable climate for solar power and has been investing heavily in large-scale solar projects in recent years.
Spain
Spain has set a target to reduce energy consumption by 20% by 2020 compared to 2005 levels. To achieve this goal, Spain has implemented a range of policies and initiatives, such as the “National Renewable Energy Action Plan” and the “Energy Efficiency and Saving Plan”.
The plans include measures such as improving energy efficiency in buildings, increasing renewable energy sources, and promoting energy-efficient transport. Spain has also implemented a range of financial incentives for energy efficiency, such as subsidies for building renovations and tax credits for energy-efficient vehicles.
Spain has been a leader in the use of wind power for many years right after Germany, and has over 27 GW of installed wind power capacity as of 2020. The country has invested heavily in both onshore and offshore wind projects, and has set a target to increase its wind power capacity to 40 GW by 2030.
Southeastern Europe also has its own approaches to addressing energy efficiency challenges
In Southeastern Europe, many countries are still in the process of developing and implementing energy efficiency policies. Some countries have made progress in this area.
Croatia
For example, Croatia has set a target to reduce energy consumption by 20% by 2020 compared to 2007 levels. The country has implemented a range of policies and initiatives, such as the “National Energy Efficiency Action Plan” and the “National Renewable Energy Action Plan”.
These plans include measures such as improving energy efficiency in buildings, increasing the use of renewable energy sources, and promoting sustainable transport. Croatia has also implemented financial incentives for energy efficiency, such as tax credits for building renovations and subsidies for renewable energy installations.
Croatia has a long history of using hydropower, and it accounts for over 90% of Croatia’s total renewable energy production. Croatia has numerous rivers and waterfalls that are suitable for hydropower, and the country has invested in building a number of small and medium-sized hydroelectric power plants.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria has also set a target to reduce energy consumption by 20% by 2020 compared to 2005 levels. The country has implemented a range of policies and initiatives, such as the “National Energy Efficiency Action Plan” and the “National Renewable Energy Action Plan”.
These plans include measures such as promoting energy efficiency in buildings, increasing the use of renewable energy sources, and promoting sustainable transport. Bulgaria has also implemented financial incentives for energy efficiency, such as tax credits for building renovations and subsidies for renewable energy installations.
Bulgaria has been investing in wind energy technology for many years, and has the potential to significantly increase its wind power capacity in the future.
Solar power is also an important source of renewable energy in Bulgaria. The country has a favorable climate for solar power, with an average of 2,300-2,800 hours of sunshine per year.
Romania
One of Romania’s primary goals is to reduce its energy consumption and increase the use of renewable energy sources. To achieve this goal, the country has implemented a range of policies and initiatives, such as the “National Energy Efficiency Action Plan” and the “National Renewable Energy Action Plan”.
These plans include measures such as promoting energy efficiency in buildings, increasing the use of renewable energy sources, and promoting sustainable transport.
Romania has also implemented financial incentives for energy efficiency, such as tax credits for building renovations and subsidies for renewable energy installations. Additionally, the country has established a National Energy Efficiency Fund, which provides financing for energy efficiency projects in the public and private sectors.
Despite these efforts, Romania still faces challenges in achieving its energy efficiency targets. One of the main challenges is the high energy consumption in the country’s residential sector, which accounts for a significant portion of Romania’s energy consumption. To address this, the government has implemented programs aimed at improving energy efficiency in buildings and providing financial assistance to low-income households to make energy-efficient improvements to their homes.
In conclusion, each country in the EU faces unique energy efficiency challenges, but they all share a common goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and achieving a sustainable energy system. To achieve these goals, countries have implemented a range of policies and initiatives, such as improving energy efficiency in buildings, expanding renewable energy sources, and promoting energy-efficient transport.
Additionally, financial incentives such as subsidies and tax credits have been introduced to encourage individuals and businesses to adopt energy-efficient practices.