EU agrees to boost energy efficiency

This photo taken on Jan. 9, 2023 shows a high-voltage grid facility in Berlin, Germany. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei)

Under the agreement, EU countries must work towards a reduction of energy consumption of at least 11.7 percent, exceeding the forecasts for 2030 that were made in the European Commission's "Fit for 55" proposal.

BRUSSELS, March 10 (Xinhua) -- The member states of the European Union (EU) and the European Parliament have agreed on a provisional deal aimed at reducing energy consumption across the bloc, the European Commission said on Friday.

Under the agreement, EU countries must work towards a reduction of energy consumption of at least 11.7 percent, exceeding the forecasts for 2030 that were made in the European Commission's "Fit for 55" proposal.

The deal is part of the EU's plans to become climate neutral by 2050. It must be formally adopted by Parliament and the Council to come into force.

In a statement, the Commission welcomed the provisional agreement, which also includes measures to tackle energy poverty. The agreed rules should also ensure that EU countries promote local heating and cooling plans in cities with more than 45,000 inhabitants.

People fill the tanks of their cars at a gas station near Paris, France, Aug. 18, 2022. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

Under the provisional deal, the annual energy savings obligation nearly doubles to ensure continuous progress. EU countries will be required to achieve new savings each year of 1.49 percent of final energy consumption on average, between 2024 and 2030, up from the current level of 0.8 percent. They will gradually have to reach 1.9 percent by the end of 2030.

"This is an important instrument to drive energy savings in end-use sectors, such as buildings, industry and transport," the Commission said in the statement.

The revised rules also give a greater responsibility to the public sector to increase energy efficiency. Public bodies will need to systematically consider energy efficiency requirements in their public procurement of products, services, buildings and works.

Photo taken on April 26, 2022 shows a moored floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage unit, which provides LNG for the nearby Delimara power station in Marsaxlokk, Malta. (Xinhua/Chen Wenxian)

A new annual energy consumption reduction target of 1.9 percent is introduced for the public sector. EU countries' obligation to renovate each year at least 3 percent of the total floor area of buildings owned by the public administration now also covers the regional and local levels, according to the statement.

Companies will be encouraged to be more energy-efficient under the revised directive.

"Energy efficiency is key for achieving the full decarbonization of the EU's economy and independence from Russian fossil fuels," Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson commented.