Policy & Regulation

The optimization of energy use in buildings and industry requires a systems approach to harvest its full potential. This idea is winning ground, as it is shown by the proposal of the ITRE committee of the European Parliament to include a definition of ‘system efficiency'.

Recently there has been more and more in the media about hydrogen as a future fuel. These discussions often talk about hydrogen using a colour coding - which has the potential to confuse an already complicated matter even further. To support discussion I have pulled together a summary.

Study into 41 EU-funded energy efficiency projects across Europe looked at primary energy savings, greenhouse gas savings, investment triggered, market stakeholders with increased skills on energy issues, and renewable energy generated. The projects received €58.5m of funding from the EU.

Impact investing aims to have a positive impact on key sustainability problems. Amy Clarke, founder of Tribe Impact Capital, says every investment is an impact investment. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a good roadmap to all the areas where we need.

The EU's climate, energy, land use, transport and taxation policies fit for reducing net GHG emissions by at least 55% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels. It will be quite a challenge to get all those proposals through the EU approvals process.

In the Energy-Climate era of today, the challenge of energy consumption is the greatest problem faced by humanity in its history. The majority of environmental problems arise from the types of energy we use, and the increasing burning of fossil fuels accelerates climate change.

Decisions made today to build assets impact the energy system decades in the future. The last steam train left Swindons incredible factory with over 200 built during the preceding decade. Between the first commercial diesel train and the last steam train being retired are 43 years.

The European Commission circulated a new set of proposals called ‘Fit for 55’ It aims to deliver the 2030 climate change targets and coping with the highly popular EU Green Deal. The proposed package actively contributes to raise the level of ambition of the EU.

The EU's Renovation Wave aims to renovate 35 million buildings between now and 2030. That means about 3.5 million buildings annually. Adrian Joyce says there is an annual green investment gap of up to €275 billion. But he says.