"DG Energy Newsletter" Newsletter Issues

Energy efficiency – a driver for lower energy bills (11/10/2022)

With energy prices at all-time highs, and Russia’s war against Ukraine contributing to market uncertainty, EU countries are taking action to alleviate the situation for citizens and businesses.

Energy prices: Commission proposes emergency market intervention to reduce bills for Europeans (26/09/2022)

The Commission proposed on 14 September exceptional electricity demand reduction measures, which will help reduce the cost of electricity for consumers, and measures to redistribute the energy sector's surplus revenues to final customers. The measures were adopted by the Council on 30 September and entered into force on 6 October.

Launch of the Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (03/10/2022)

This interconnector opens a key route to carry gas from the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline and Greece to Bulgaria and neighbouring countries. This project of common interest will help diversify the gas supply in the South-East European region.

Launch of the Baltic Pipe (27/09/2022)

On 27 September, the Baltic Pipe was inaugurated at an opening ceremony in Goleniów, Poland. The event marks the end of the process of the Baltic Pipe construction, a key route to carry gas from Norway through Denmark to Poland and neighbouring countries.

Ukraine: EU agrees on eighth package of sanctions against Russia (10/10/2022)

Among other measures, the package lays the basis for the required legal framework to implement the oil price cap envisaged by the G7.

EURATOM and IAEA sign Memorandum of Understanding on nuclear safety cooperation (29/09/2022)

The two parties have agreed to update the content of the previous 2013 memorandum of understanding, extending activities to include emerging areas of common interest, such as education and training, small modular reactors and the safety of fusion installations.

The 16th edition of the European Sustainable Energy Week (30/09/2022)

The 2022 edition of the European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW), the European Commission’s biggest event dedicated to energy efficiency and renewable energy, drew to a close after 40 different plenary and policy sessions.

European Commission and industry leaders launch Biomethane Industrial Partnership (28/09/2022)

This new public-private partnership was announced in the REPowerEU Plan and it aims to support the achievement of the target to increase annual production and use of biomethane to 35 billion cubic metres by 2030.

Remarks by Commissioner Simson after the EU-Algeria High-Level Energy Dialogue on 10 October 2022 (11/10/2022)

Remarks by Commissioner Simson after the EU-Algeria High-Level Energy Dialogue.

EVP Timmermans and Commissioner Simson on an emergency intervention to address high energy prices on 14 September 2022 (26/09/2022)

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/SPEECH_22_5521?pk_campaign=ENER%20Newsletter%20OCTOBER%202022

Commissioner Simson on the Europe Calling podcast (10/10/2022)

The 7th episode of the Europe Calling podcast series is out! This episode focuses on the winter energy crisis in Europe with consumer prices soaring and shortages for industry looming.

Cross-regional meeting on Projects of Common Interest and Projects of Mutual Interest (17/10/2022)

The first cross-regional meeting on Projects of Common Interest (PCI) and Projects of Mutual Interest (PMI) for all energy infrastructure categories takes place on 17 October 2022.

Covenant of Mayors Investment Forum 2022 (18/10/2022)

The 2022 edition of the Covenant of Mayors Investment Forum - Energy Efficiency Finance Market Place will take place in Brussels on 18 October. The conference will include plenary sessions with high-level representatives from the European Commission, cities and the investment community.

Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage Forum (27/10/2022)

The second plenary meeting of the stakeholder consultation forum dealing with carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS Forum) will take place on 27 and 28 October 2022 in Oslo, Norway.

16th SET Plan conference - Towards a new Strategic Energy Technology Plan (09/11/2022)

The 2022 edition of the SET Plan conference, “Towards a new Strategic Energy Technology Plan”, aims to explore the transformational pathways to sustainable, secure, resilient and competitive energy systems and value chains.

EU energy in figures - Statistical pocketbook 2022 (30/09/2022)

This publication provides an overview of the most relevant annual energy-related statistics for the European Union as a whole and for each of its Member States.

EU’s global leadership in renewables - Final synthesis report (27/09/2022)

This is a study on the EU's global leadership in renewable energy (RE), covering wind energy, solar energy, bioenergy, geothermal and aerothermal, hydropower and ocean energy.

Assessment of Member States’ reports on achieved shares of renewable energy sources for the year 2020 - final report (10/10/2022)

In this final report, we present the main findings of the quantitative and qualitative analysis regarding the achieved shares of renewable energy sources (RES) in each Member State (MS) and in the European Union (EU) as a whole and the main policies and measures implemented.

Members of the North Seas Energy Cooperation grasp historic opportunity to accelerate Europe’s move towards energy independence (12/09/2022)

Energy Ministers from the members of the North Seas Energy Cooperation and the Commission announced a significant increase in their collective ambition in the deployment of offshore renewable energy.

Statement by President von der Leyen on energy (07/09/2022)

The President has announced a set of immediate measures that will protect vulnerable consumers and businesses from volatility in electricity markets.

Inauguration of the gas interconnector between Poland and Slovakia (06/09/2022)

This gas interconnector, inaugurated on 26 August, connects the gas networks of Poland and Slovakia, ensuring affordable supplies and diversifying supply routes.

Commission adopts first list of renewable energy cross-border projects (06/09/2022)

The Commission established on 30 August the first list of renewable energy cross-border projects under the Connecting Europe Facility. This first list comprises 3 projects, relevant for a total of 7 EU countries.

Eurobarometer: Trust in the EU on the rise, amid strong support for the EU's response to Russia invasion of Ukraine and energy policies (06/09/2022)

An overwhelming majority of EU citizens support investments in renewable energy and action to reduce the EU's dependency on Russian energy sources.

Commissioner Simson at the press conference of the Extraordinary Energy Council of 9 September (12/09/2022)

Opening remarks by Commissioner Simson at the press conference of the Extraordinary Energy Council of 9 September 2022

Keynote Speech by Commissioner Simson at the EU – India Solar Energy Event (07/09/2022)

Visit of Kadri Simson, European Commissioner, to India

Third PCI Energy Days (19/09/2022)

The PCI Energy Days is a policy conference and exhibition dedicated to the practical implementation of Projects of Common Interest.

European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) 2022 (26/09/2022)

Registration for the European Sustainable Energy Week 2022 opened on 16 June. Under the theme “Going green and digital for Europe’s energy transition”, the event will take place from 26 to 30 September.

Guidelines for life cycle assessment of carbon capture and utilisation (06/09/2022)

Guidelines for life cycle assessment of carbon capture and utilisation.

State of the Union address by President von der Leyen (12/09/2022)

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, will deliver her third State of the Union address on 14 September 2022.

Solar energy – harnessing the power of the sun (13/09/2022)

Solar power is currently one of the cheapest renewable energies on the market and the most accessible one for European households. In 2020, 5.2% of the EU’s total electricity production came from solar energy.

Statement by Commissioner Simson on the situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (09/08/2022)

The EU reaffirms that the deployment of Russian military personnel and weaponry at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear facility is an open violation of all internationally agreed safety, security and safeguards provisions.

Council adopts regulation on reducing gas demand by 15% this winter (08/08/2022)

To increase the EU’s security of energy supply, the Council adopted on 5 August a regulation on a voluntary reduction of natural gas demand by 15% this winter.

Save Gas for a Safe Winter: Commission proposes gas demand reduction plan to prepare EU for supply cuts (20/07/2022)

The Commission proposed on 20 July a new legislative tool and a European Gas Demand Reduction Plan to reduce gas use in Europe by 15% until next spring.

TSOs of Continental Europe agree to increase the trade capacity with the Ukraine/Moldova power system (12/08/2022)

On 28 July, the Transmission System Operators (TSOs) for Electricity of Continental Europe agreed to increase the trade capacity with Ukraine/Moldova to 250 MW, which is more than double the capacity that was set in the initial phase (100 MW).

EU and Azerbaijan enhance bilateral relations, including energy cooperation (20/07/2022)

Based on a strengthened energy cooperation, Azerbaijan is already now increasing deliveries of natural gas to the EU, from 8.1 billion cubic metres in 2021 to an expected 12 bcm in 2022.

Opening remarks at the press conference of the Extraordinary Energy Council of 26 July 2022 (26/07/2022)

Opening remarks of Commissioner Simson at the press conference of the Extraordinary Energy Council of 26 July 2022

Opening remarks at the press conference on the Save Gas for a Safe Winter package of 20 July 2022 (20/07/2022)

Opening remarks by Executive Vice-President Timmermans, Commissioner Simson and Commissioner Breton at the press conference on the Save Gas for a Safe Winter package

Stakeholder workshop on updates of national energy and climate plans (08/09/2022)

In preparation of its guidance, the Commission is organising an online stakeholder workshop that brings together relevant stakeholders to discuss lessons learnt from the first NECPs, good practices and key areas to consider to update them in 2024.

Rural Energy Community Advisory Hub – Launch of the Technical Assistance Programme (12/09/2022)

Join us on Monday 12 September 2022 as we officially launch a programme of direct technical assistance to rural energy communities.

Assessment of policies for gas distribution networks, gas DSOs and the participation of consumers (16/08/2022)

Assessment of policies for gas distribution networks, gas DSOs and the participation of consumers.

Study on key performance indicators for monitoring implementation of national programmes on safe and long-term management of spent fuel and radioactive waste (20/07/2022)

Article 12(1)(g) of Council Directive 2011/70/EURATOM (Radioactive Waste Directive) requires EU countries to set out key performance indicators in their national programmes for the management of spent fuel and radioactive waste to monitor progress towards implementation of the said programmes.

Multiple benefits of energy efficiency investments for financial institutions (10/08/2022)

Multiple benefits of energy efficiency investments for financial institutions.

People with energy (16/08/2022)

Watch the video testimonials of Mairéad, Marek, Katrin, Renè, Benedetta and Rayco, who work in different renewable energy installations in different parts of the EU.

Clean energy for EU islands forum 2022 (16/08/2022)

12 video recordings from the 17-18 May forum are now available in the Clean energy for EU islands playlist on YouTube.

In focus: Energy and smart cities (13/07/2022)

As the fight against climate change increasingly involves the deployment of solutions at all levels and the participation of citizens, cities are well-placed to show leadership in the clean energy transition. They can achieve significant benefits through the early adoption of policies aimed at achieving climate neutrality.

Statement by Commissioner Simson on the start of electricity trade between Ukraine and the EU (05/07/2022)

Power trade between Ukraine and the EU started on 30 June, following the successful emergency synchronisation of the Ukrainian and Moldovan grids with the European Continental Grid in March.

High volatility and geopolitical tensions impact electricity and gas market developments in Q1 2022 (11/07/2022)

Russia’s unjustified aggression against Ukraine has reinforced uncertainty around the European security of gas supply and price volatility on the European gas markets according to the last European Commission’s quarterly gas market report. The quarterly electricity report also highlights the impact of current geopolitical tensions on the EU’s electricity market in the first quarter of 2022.

New regional task force of the EU Energy Platform for Central-Eastern Europe (05/07/2022)

The task force will concentrate on implementing the REPowerEU plan in the region. The aim is to reduce dependency on Russian fossil fuels, fill storage ahead of next winter and further accelerate the decarbonisation of the energy sector.

EU holds second High Level Energy Dialogue with the Republic of Moldova (05/07/2022)

The discussions set the direction and pace for further work on energy security and connectivity, energy market reforms and technical and financial assistance to mitigate the impact of high energy prices on vulnerable consumers.

Fossil fuels led in electricity generation in 2021 (06/07/2022)

After a long period of national lockdowns and restrictive measures introduced to curb the spread of COVID-19 in 2020, 2021 saw a rebound in economic activity in many EU countries, which impacted energy use in the EU.

Energy Security: Commission welcomes swift adoption of new gas storage rules (05/07/2022)

New storage legislation adopted on 27 June will strengthen the EU's security of gas supply in view of the upcoming and next winters.

Commissioner welcomes Connecting Europe Facility project grant for Bulgarian gas storage expansion (05/07/2022)

The project will benefit from a Connecting Europe Facility-Energy grant of nearly €78 million to Bulgartransgaz EAD for the expansion of the Chiren underground gas storage facility in Bulgaria.

Joint EU-Norway statement on strengthening energy cooperation (06/07/2022)

The parties agreed to further strengthen their close cooperation in the field of energy, with a view to deepen their long-term energy partnership.

EU-US Joint Press Release on the Global Methane Pledge Energy Pathway (06/07/2022)

The European Union, the United States and 11 countries launched on 17 June the Global Methane Pledge Energy Pathway to catalyze methane emissions reductions in the oil and gas sector, advancing both climate progress and energy security.

Commissioner Simson at the Energy Council press conference of 27 June 2022 (05/07/2022)

Opening remarks by Commissioner Simson at the Energy Council press conference of 27 June 2022

Speech by Commissioner Simson at the Three Seas Business Forum (05/07/2022)

Speech by Commissioner Simson at the Three Seas Business Forum: ‘Building a Balanced and Resilient Energy Sector in the Three Seas Region'

Clean energy for EU islands - From vision to action : how to tackle transition on EU islands? - Methodological handbook (13/07/2022)

This Handbook is an action- oriented guide to help islands navigate the transition toward clean energy.

Benchmarking of different renovation concepts for the renovation of similar apartment blocks (08/07/2022)

Topic 1 of the Benchmarking for mobilising investments in energy efficiency reports.

Benchmarking of different financial instruments to unlock private financing for energy renovation, also in the context of supporting the most vulnerable consumers (08/07/2022)

Topic 2 of the Benchmarking for mobilising investments in energy efficiency reports.

Developing efficient district heating to improve energy efficiency and security of supply (08/07/2022)

Topic 3 of the Benchmarking for mobilising investments in energy efficiency report.

Technical assistance for energy efficiency to support the development of a strong project pipeline (08/07/2022)

Topic 4 of the Benchmarking for mobilising investments in energy efficiency reports

People with energy – Katrin (05/07/2022)

Katrin Stjernfeldt Jammeh is the Mayor of Malmö (Sweden), a city that aims to achieve a 100% renewable-energy production by 2030.

People with energy – Marek (05/07/2022)

Marek Gielarowiec is an electrician working for Poland’s largest photovoltaic farm, which produces renewable energy for 10 000 households.

REPowerEU: A plan to rapidly reduce dependence on Russian fossil fuels and fast forward the green transition (24/05/2022)

There is a double urgency to transform Europe's energy system: ending the EU's dependence on Russian fossil fuels, which are used as an economic and political weapon and cost European taxpayers nearly €100 billion per year, and tackling the climate crisis.

New €800 million call for clean energy infrastructure projects to support REPowerEU Plan (24/05/2022)

The Commission has launched a new call for proposals for key cross-border EU energy infrastructure projects under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) for Energy. Applications for funding must be submitted by 1 September 2022 [17:00 CET].

Commission establishes the EU Energy Platform Task Force to secure alternative supplies (25/05/2022)

The Commission has set up a new Task Force within its Directorate-General for Energy, to provide support to the EU Energy Platform and implement the REPowerEU goal of supply diversification.

Commission kick starts work with EU national authorities to speed up permit-granting procedures for renewable energy projects (14/06/2022)

A multi-country flagship workshop on permit-granting processes for renewable energy projects discussed the options that Member States have in order to accelerate the permitting process, gathering the experience and good practices that have been identified at the Member State level.

New EPREL database to help consumers compare energy efficient products (24/05/2022)

This new EU-wide public database enables consumers to compare the energy efficiency class and other data about different household products.

Further progress on integrating Ukraine and Moldova into European electricity market (14/06/2022)

The European Commission welcomed the progress in integrating Ukraine and Moldova into the European electricity market, as confirmed today by the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E).

Commission welcomes political agreement on new rules for securing winter gas storage (25/05/2022)

The new rules, against the backdrop of Russia's war against Ukraine, will ensure security of energy supply across the EU each winter.

Russia's war on Ukraine: EU adopts sixth package of sanctions against Russia (03/06/2022)

The European Commission welcomed the adoption of the sixth package of restrictive measures against Russia, which contains a complete import ban on all Russian seaborne crude oil and petroleum products. This covers 90% of our current oil imports from Russia.

Heating of buildings decreasing, cooling increasing (03/06/2022)

The need to heat a given building has decreased over time: only 89% of the heating needs were required in 2021 compared with 1979.

European Semester Spring Package: Sustaining a green and sustainable recovery in the face of increased uncertainty (25/05/2022)

This year, country-specific recommendations include recommendations for reducing the dependency on fossil fuels through reforms and investments, in line with the REPowerEU priorities and the European Green Deal.

Speech by Commissioner Simson at the IEA's 7th Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency Opening Plenary (13/06/2022)

Speech by Commissioner Simson at the IEA's 7th Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency Opening Plenary

Opening remarks by EVP Timmermans and Commissioner Simson at the press conference on the REPowerEU Plan (13/06/2022)

Opening remarks by Executive Vice-President Timmermans and Commissioner Simson at the press conference on the REPowerEU Plan

Second high-level meeting of the Clean Energy Industrial Forum (16/06/2022)

The event will focus on how the European clean energy industry could contribute to accelerating the manufacturing and deployment of renewables and electrification across the whole value chain to ensure that possible barriers and bottlenecks are effectively addressed.

Launch of the Rural Energy Community Advisory Hub (17/06/2022)

The European Commission is launching the Rural Energy Community Advisory Hub initiative, which aims to encourage and enable citizens, small businesses, farmers and local authorities to come together and set up energy communities in European rural areas.

Virtual webinar: Second EU-Canada Dialogue on Hydrogen (20/06/2022)

This second dialogue will focus on how to build a sustainable supply chain of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen from Canada to the EU.

Call for technical assistance under the Energy Communities Repository (21/06/2022)

The Energy Communities Repository, an initiative launched by the European Commission in April 2022, organises an online webinar to launch an open call for technical assistance for energy communities in Europe.

Energy Poverty Advisory Hub Conference - Moving Towards Energy Autonomy: How to Guarantee Social Inclusion (28/06/2022)

Participants will debate, learn from each other and share practices as to how the EU, national and local actors can work together to contribute to the rapid energy transition and reduce energy poverty for all including energy-poor and vulnerable consumers.

Supporting small, medium-sized and large enterprises in the race to net zero (23/06/2022)

The European Covenant of Companies for Climate and Energy (CCCE) is launching on 15 June its first call for technical assistance in five focus countries: Croatia, Finland, Italy, the Netherlands and Poland. The event aims to raise awareness among potential beneficiaries, including SMEs, groups of SMEs and companies, authorities and other enablers in these focus countries.

Flexibility for resilience - How can flexibility support power grids resilience? (03/06/2022)

This white paper discusses the item “How can flexibility support resilience?”, considering the increased societal needs of a secure electricity supply.

Technical support for RES policy development and implementation (24/05/2022)

This interim study report of the “RES Simplify” project provides insights on the simplification of permission and administrative procedures for renewable energy installations.

Policy support for heating and cooling decarbonisation (13/06/2022)

The heating and cooling (H&C) sector is responsible for a central part of the EU’s energy demand, representing roughly half of the final energy consumption.

Renewable cooling under the revised Renewable Energy Directive (13/06/2022)

Renewable cooling under the revised Renewable Energy Directive

District heating and cooling in the European Union (13/06/2022)

Overview of markets and regulatory frameworks under the revised Renewable Energy Directive.

Renewable space heating under the revised Renewable Energy Directive (13/06/2022)

This study aims to provide a better information basis for policy design targeting decarbonisation of the space and water heating sector.

Production of renewable transport fuels – share of renewable electricity (requirements) (17/06/2022)

This initiative sets out the requirements for renewable electricity used to produce renewable transport fuels so they can be counted as fully renewable.

Renewable energy – method for assessing greenhouse gas emission savings for certain fuels (17/06/2022)

The Renewable Energy Directive establishes rules to help the EU to meet its greenhouse gas emission reduction commitments under the Paris Agreement.

Energy efficiency – ecodesign requirements for vacuum cleaners (07/04/2022)

In 2013, the EU adopted an ecodesign measure on vacuum cleaners that set minimum energy efficiency requirements. This led to substantial energy savings for consumers. This initiative will review the measure in light of technological progress.

In focus: Engaging with energy partners in a changing world (14/06/2022)

Soaring energy prices since last autumn, followed by Russia’s unjustified aggression on Ukraine, have put the European energy market to a test. If the ambitious objectives of the European Green Deal were to be maintained, Europe needed a plan to manage tight global energy supply, rising inflation and insecurities that accompany a military conflict within close proximity.

Employment in EU’s renewable energy sector (16/05/2022)

Energy coming from renewable sources is essential for “cleaning” the EU’s energy system. At the same time, an increased share of renewables in the energy mix will also benefit citizens by creating new job opportunities across various sectors.

Inauguration of gas interconnection between Poland and Lithuania (06/05/2022)

The gas interconnection between Poland and Lithuania (GIPL) was formally commissioned last week, boosting energy security in the region by connecting the Baltic and Finnish with the Polish markets.

The European Commission and the IEA outline key energy saving actions (25/04/2022)

The International Energy Agency and the European Commission have outlined a range of simple steps that people can take to reduce their energy use and save money.

EU-Azerbaijan – Senior officials meet to reinforce energy cooperation (16/05/2022)

Senior European Commission officials and Azerbaijan government representatives have met on 13 May to discuss energy issues in line with the EU-Azerbaijan Energy Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

Region matches for exchangeEU programme for just transition in coal regions (16/05/2022)

The EU coal regions exchange programme has announced 8 matches between EU regions based on their profile to find the best fits for the most fruitful exchanges.

Clean energy for EU islands: Results of the second Call for Technical Assistance (13/05/2022)

The Clean energy for EU islands secretariat has evaluated applications received in response to the second call for technical assistance to EU islands’ energy transition projects. A total of 28 applications from all over the EU were received.

U.S.-EU High-Level Business Forum on Offshore Wind Power (02/05/2022)

The U.S.-EU Energy Council High-Level Business Forum facilitated discussions and direct engagement between U.S. and EU private sector and government leaders about policies needed to accelerate investment in offshore wind projects and the development of an offshore wind manufacturing base in the U.S.

Commission publishes its second report assessing implementation of Nuclear Safety Directive (25/04/2022)

The report concludes that there is a good overall level of implementation of the Directive’s obligations, and highlights the significant progress made by Member States in the 10 years since the Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011.

Electricity and gas prices in the second half of 2021 (02/05/2022)

Average household electricity prices in the EU increased sharply compared with the same period of 2020 (€21.3 per 100 kWh), standing at €23.7 per 100 kWh. Average gas prices in the EU also increased compared with the same period of 2020 (€7.0 per 100 kWh) to €7.8 per 100 kWh in the second half of 2021.

Commission announces winners of school video competition on energy efficiency (06/05/2022)

The winning entries in an EU-wide school video competition “Film4Energy challenge” on saving energy have been announced. The overall winner is the team ‘Act Green’ from the 5th Gymnasium in Kalamata (Greece), with four runners-up and one special prize.

Opening remarks of Commissioner Simson at the press conference of the Extraordinary Energy Council of 2 May 2022 (03/05/2022)

Commissioner Simson at the press conference of the Extraordinary Energy Council of 2 May 2022.

ETIP SNET webinars: High Level Use cases (12/05/2022)

The European Technology and Innovation Platforms Smart Networks for Energy Transition (ETIP SNET) has launched a series of 3 webinars to provide detailed explanations of its 9 High Level Use Cases and the related Priority Project Concepts, which were introduced in the recently published R&I Implementation Plan 2022-2025.

Clean energy for EU islands forum 2022 (17/05/2022)

This year’s edition of the Clean energy for EU islands forum is entitled “From clean energy vision to clean energy action”, and it will take place on the Greek island of Rhodes.

8th Energy Infrastructure Forum 2022 (02/06/2022)

The annual Energy Infrastructure Forum is organised by the European Commission in cooperation with the Danish Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities.

Meeting of the European Electricity Regulatory Forum (09/06/2022)

The annual European Electricity Regulatory Forum was set up on the initiative of the Commission in 1998 to discuss the creation of the internal electricity market. This year, the event will take place in Rome, Italy.

Explore: EUSEW - Going green and digital for Europe’s energy transition (26/09/2022)

The European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) brings together public authorities, private companies, projects, NGOs and consumers to promote initiatives to save energy and move towards renewables for clean, secure and efficient energies.

The quantitative relationship between energy efficiency improvements and lower probability of default of associated loans and increased value of the underlying assets (16/05/2022)

This EEFIG report looks at the relationship between the energy performance of buildings, credit risk and asset values in an effort to understand if green loans are less risky or if a better energy performance can increase the property value.

Report on the evolution of financing practices for energy efficiency in buildings, SME's and in industry (02/05/2022)

This report is an update of the EEFIG Report 2015, and provides a deep dive into the current status and necessary actions to scale up energy efficiency investments in buildings, SMEs and industry in Europe.

Shedding light on energy in the EU - Interactive publication (16/05/2022)

Where does our energy come from? How dependent are we on energy imports? Which kind of energy do we consume in the EU and how much does it cost? Answers to these questions and to many more can be found in the updated 2022 edition of Eurostat's interactive publication Shedding light on energy in the EU.

People with energy - Mairéad (06/05/2022)

‘People with energy’ shows individual portraits of people working in different renewable energy installations across Europe. In these testimonials, they share their ambitions and hopes as they make their own contribution to a clean and safe energy system. Learn what has inspired them to pursue their unique paths in the energy sector.

Ask Commissioner Simson (06/05/2022)

On the occasion of Europe Day 2022, Commissioner Simson answered 7 questions citizens may ask themselves about energy, the consequences of the war in Ukraine and the upcoming REPowerEU initiative.

Reducing the EU’s dependence on imported fossil fuels (20/04/2022)

The surge in energy prices and high volatility seen since last autumn already triggered calls last year for reducing our dependence on energy imports. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has taken this debate further and prompted strategic EU policy changes.

Commission outlines options to mitigate high energy prices with common gas purchases and minimum gas storage obligations (01/04/2022)

Following up rapidly on the REPowerEU Communication and the Versailles Declaration, on 23 March the Commission set out ideas for collective European action to address the root causes of the problem in the gas market and ensure security of supply at reasonable prices for next winter and beyond.

Energy Security: Commission hosts first meeting of EU Energy Purchase Platform to secure supply of gas, LNG and hydrogen (08/04/2022)

In order to secure the EU's energy supply at affordable prices in the current geopolitical context and to phase out dependency on Russian gas, the European Commission has established with the Member States an EU Platform for the common purchase of gas, LNG and hydrogen.

Commission's Technical Support Instrument to help 17 Member States curb their reliance on Russian fossil fuels (06/04/2022)

The Commission will offer technical support to help 17 Member States phase out their reliance on Russian fossil fuels, in line with the REPowerEU plan for more affordable, secure and sustainable energy.

EU natural gas import dependency down to 83% in 2021 (20/04/2022)

In 2021, the EU’s natural gas import dependency rate was 83%. This is 1 percentage point (pp) less than 2020 (84%). This small decrease in import dependency was significantly influenced by the fact that most EU Member States used stocks of natural gas that were imported in previous years.

The coal regions in the Western Balkans and Ukraine exchange programme (06/04/2022)

The coal regions exchange programme has launched 6 exchanges between regions in the Western Balkans and their EU counterparts. These provide an opportunity to learn from each other’s experiences on moving away from coal as part of the clean energy transition.

Commissioner Simson participates in 15th EU-OPEC Energy Dialogue (20/04/2022)

On 12 April Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson, co-chaired with OPEC Secretary General Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo the 15th High-Level Meeting of the EU-OPEC Energy Dialogue in Vienna.

The European Commission and the United States open new chapter in their energy cooperation (01/04/2022)

During their meeting on 25 March in Brussels, President Ursula von der Leyen and US President Joe Biden committed to working together to support Europe's energy security for the coming winters and to sustainably reduce Europe's energy dependency on Russia by investing in the clean energy transition.

Ukraine: EU agrees fifth package of restrictive measures against Russia (08/04/2022)

The package contains an import ban on all forms of Russian coal. This affects one fourth of all Russian coal exports, amounting to around €8 billion loss of revenue per year for Russia.

Green Deal: New proposals to make sustainable products the norm and boost Europe's resource independence (01/04/2022)

The Commission is proposing new rules to make almost all physical goods on the EU market more friendly to the environment, circular, and energy efficient throughout their whole lifecycle from the design phase through to daily use, repurposing and end-of-life.

The ecodesign and energy labelling working plan 2022-2024 (06/04/2022)

On 30 March, together with the proposal for a Sustainable Products Regulation, the Commission adopted the new ecodesign and energy labelling working plan 2022-2024. It strengthens the focus on the circularity aspects of ecodesign and labelling requirements for energy-related products and tyres.

Every building can be green – here’s how (01/04/2022)

More than 220 million buildings in Europe date from before 2001. Older buildings are much less efficient at retaining warmth and as a result, 75% of the EU’s building stock leaks energy. To address this, as part of the European Green Deal, the EU aims to give around 35 million buildings across Europe an energy facelift.

Keynote Speech by Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson at the Solar Power Summit (20/04/2022)

Keynote Speech by Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson at the Solar Power Summit on 31 March.

Playing my part: How to save money, reduce reliance on Russian energy, support Ukraine and help the planet (21/04/2022)

On 21 April at 11:00 AM CET, IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol and European Commission Director-General for Energy Ditte Juul Jørgensen will host a roundtable discussion about the initial version of the IEA’s new guide for how consumers can save energy.

Webinar on off-balance sheet energy performance contracts for public buildings: best practices in the EU (26/04/2022)

This webinar will give an overview on the development of off-government-balance sheet EnPC frameworks for the energy renovation of public buildings across different Member States and update on most recent development of EnPC financing models.

Smart Cities Marketplace Forum - Towards a just and clean urban transition (26/04/2022)

This year’s Smart Cities Marketplace Forum will be organised in collaboration with the Covenant of Mayors Office, the European Innovation Council and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency, among others partners.

U.S.-EU high-level B2B forum on offshore wind (27/04/2022)

EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson and US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm will launch a special U.S.-EU high-level business-to-business (B2B) forum on offshore wind aiming to bring together key players from both sides of the Atlantic – policymakers, companies and investors – to outline the challenges ahead for these emerging technologies and to find new areas for cooperation.

Series of webinars on the revised TEN-E Regulation (10/05/2022)

Ahead of the formal entry into force of the revised Regulation for the planning and development of trans-European energy networks (TEN-E Regulation) in the EU, expected in June, the Commission is organising a series of dedicated webinars to present its key provisions.

36th Madrid Forum (11/05/2022)

The European Gas Regulatory Forum, also known as the Madrid Forum, gathers key stakeholders across the European energy sector to discuss opportunities and challenges related to the further development and decarbonisation of the internal EU gas market and to its integration with other energy sectors.

Quarterly report on European gas markets (Q4 2021) (08/04/2022)

Wholesale gas prices in the EU rose to record levels in the last quarter of 2021, influenced by the tightness of global gas markets and growing geopolitical tensions.

Quarterly report on European electricity markets (Q4 2021) (08/04/2022)

The report shows that electricity consumption returned to pre-pandemic levels and that prices hit record highs on several occasions, but it also shows the considerable progress in boosting renewable capacity in the EU in the course of 2021.

Study on the Central and South Eastern Europe energy connectivity (CESEC) cooperation on electricity grid development and renewables (06/04/2022)

This report provides a detailed analysis of the potential for cost-effective renewable energy projects and associated infrastructure requirements in the CESEC region, in the short and long terms of 2030 and 2050, respectively.

Digitalisation of energy flexibility (06/04/2022)

This report, researched and written by the Energy Transition Expertise Centre (EnTEC) under the auspices of the European Union looks at topics related to energy transition and focuses on potential solutions for enabling a renewables-based power system that are primarily at least strongly digital.

Resilience of the nuclear sector in Europe in the face of pandemic risks (06/04/2022)

From the early spread of COVID-19 in Europe to the latest and successive pandemic waves, the nuclear industry has been successful (so far) in maintaining an uninterrupted supply, demonstrating the overall resilience of the sector.

Consultation on the revision of the Capacity Allocation and Congestion Management Regulation (16/03/2022)

The objective of this consultation is to consult stakeholders to gather factual information, knowledge and perception about the ACER proposal for amendments to the CACM Regulation.

Call for Evidence on External Power Supplies (06/04/2022)

This initiative aims to review the EU rules on these devices that have been in force since 2020.

REPowerEU: Joint European action for more affordable, secure and sustainable energy (09/03/2022)

The European Commission proposed on 8 March an outline of a plan to make Europe independent from Russian fossil fuels well before 2030, starting with gas, in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The short video below illustrates in 1.5 minutes what the new REPowerEU Communication contains.

Ukraine: EU agrees fourth package of restrictive measures against Russia (15/03/2022)

The new sanctions will further contribute to ramping up economic pressure on the Kremlin and cripple its ability to finance its invasion of Ukraine.

EU and U.S. Department of Energy support collaboration between the European Battery Alliance and U.S. Li-Bridge Alliance to strengthen supply chain (15/03/2022)

Batteries are critical to a clean energy economy. They help decarbonise the transport and energy sectors, by electrifying vehicles and providing stationary storage for the renewable-powered grid.

The Commission is launching the Investors Dialogue on Energy (14/03/2022)

The objective of this new initiative is to facilitate investments in energy projects that can contribute to achieving the ambitious climate and energy goals of the European Green Deal.

Commissioner Simson in Sweden to promote clean technologies and discuss energy policy (16/03/2022)

Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson will be in Sweden for a two-day visit focused on the promotion of clean technologies, which are a key pillar of the European Green Deal, and on discussions regarding energy policy.

CEF Energy: new call for cross-border renewable energy projects to obtain the status (15/03/2022)

The Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Energy programme for the 2021-2027 period has been extended with a cross-border renewable energy window that will contribute to meet EU decarbonisation targets by optimising national efforts for deployment of renewable energy.

The Clean energy for EU islands secretariat launches its new website (09/03/2022)

The Clean energy for EU islands secretariat – an initiative of the European Commission - has launched its new website with the aim of becoming the central platform for the clean energy transition of the more than 2,200 inhabited European islands.

Energy inflation rate continues upward hike and hits 27% (09/03/2022)

Energy annual inflation in the EU hit 27% in January 2022, continuing the upward trend, according to data recently published by Eurostat.

REPowerEU: how to increase EU energy independence (remarks by Executive Vice-President Timmermans and Commissioner Simson) (14/03/2022)

Opening remarks by Executive Vice-President Timmermans and Commissioner Simson at the press conference on the REPowerEU Communication.

Towards an EU solar energy strategy (29/03/2022)

In the context of the preparation of a Communication on an EU solar strategy and the ongoing Open Public Consultation (until 12 April), this high-level event aims to provide a forum for an exchange of views between the main relevant stakeholders.

Renewable energy projects: permit-granting processes and Power Purchase Agreements (29/03/2022)

The event will bring together EU and national policy-makers, as well as project promoters and stakeholders involved in renewables projects and PPAs, to share their experience and ideas for ways to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy projects.

The Nordic ITER Business Forum (29/03/2022)

The aim of the Nordic ITER Business Forum is to inform businesses about the ITER project and the procurement opportunities it offers, as well as to make them aware of available support to prepare and present proposals.

The Smart Readiness Indicator – Factsheet (16/03/2022)

This factsheet explain how the SRI is used to rate smart readiness of the European building stock.

ETIP SNET, R&I implementation plan 2022-2025 (09/03/2022)

By 2050, the extensive electrification in (nearly) all sectors of the energy system, combined with large energy efficiency improvements and CO2 reductions in all sectors, will lead to a carbon-neutral energy system. The ETIP SNET implementation plan shows the details of the most urgent R&I needs for the next four years.

Consultation on the revision of the Capacity Allocation and Congestion Management Regulation (16/03/2022)

The objective of this consultation is to consult stakeholders to gather factual information, knowledge and perception about the ACER proposal, in order to decide if some of the points of the proposal need to be modified, or additional requirements need to be included.

EU solar energy strategy (10/02/2022)

The aim of the online open public consultation is to gather feedback from Member States, stakeholders and citizens on the proposed scope and content of the strategy and on additional elements that the strategy should cover.

Renewable energy projects – permit-granting processes & power-purchase agreements (10/02/2022)

The aim of the public consultation is to gather feedback from the Member States, stakeholders and citizens on the proposed scope and content of the guidance as well as on additional elements that the guidance should cover.

How can the EU help those touched by energy poverty? (16/02/2022)

In 2020, around 36 million people in Europe were unable to keep their homes adequately warm. The article explains what energy poverty is and the EU policies, actions and support that exist to help tackling it. The article is available in English but more linguistic versions will follow.

The 9th U.S.-EU Energy Council (11/02/2022)

The 9th U.S.-EU Energy Council met in Washington, D.C., chaired by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm, EU High Representative/Vice President Josep Borrell Fontelles, and European Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson.

The 8th Ministerial Meeting of the Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council (11/02/2022)

The 8th Ministerial Meeting of the Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council, held in Baku on the 4th of February 2022, reaffirmed the strategic energy partnership between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the EU based on shared goals of long-term energy security, security of supply and the green energy transition.

EU invests over € 1 billion in energy infrastructure in support of the Green Deal (10/02/2022)

EU countries have agreed on a Commission proposal to invest € 1.037 billion in 5 cross-border infrastructure projects under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) for trans-European energy networks.

EU surpasses 2020 renewable energy target (10/02/2022)

At EU level, the share of gross final energy consumption from renewable sources reached 22% in 2020.

Renewable energy on the rise: 37% of EU’s electricity (10/02/2022)

In 2020, renewable energy sources made up 37% of gross electricity consumption in the EU, up from 34% in 2019.

Renewables steadily increasing in heating and cooling (14/02/2022)

In 2020, renewable energy accounted for 23% of the total energy used for heating and cooling in the EU, steadily increasing from 12% in 2004 and 22% in 2019.

EU’s energy import dependency decreased in 2020 (11/02/2022)

In 2020, the EU imported 57.5% of the energy it consumed, a decrease of almost 3 percentage points (pp) compared with 2019, when this indicator hit an all-time high of 60.5%.

EU Taxonomy: Commission presents Complementary Climate Delegated Act to accelerate decarbonisation (10/02/2022)

The European Commission has presented a Taxonomy Complementary Climate Delegated Act on climate change mitigation and adaptation covering certain gas and nuclear activities.

Energy prices on the rise in the euro area in 2021 (11/02/2022)

Between December 2020 and December 2021, the import price for energy in the euro area more than doubled (115%).

New energy statistics 2022 to support the Green Deal (10/02/2022)

The European Commission has adopted the most encompassing amendment of the energy statistics regulation ever conducted. The aim is to support even further the European Green Deal.

Speech by Commissioner Simson at the ITRE Committee meeting on energy prices (15/02/2022)

The Commissioner addressed the energy prices situation and the three newly adopted proposals on the hydrogen and decarbonised gas market, EPBD, and methane regulation.

Commissioner Simson at the Ministerial Meeting of the Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council (15/02/2022)

Ministerial Meeting of the Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council in Azrbaijan

Workshops: Digitalisation of the energy system (16/02/2022)

The Commission is organising a series of workshops aiming to collect further input from stakeholders and other relevant Commission services on an action plan on the digitalisation of the energy sector .

The Nordic ITER Business Forum (29/03/2022)

The Nordic ITER Business Forum – organised by the European Commission and the Industry Liaison Officers of Denmark, Sweden and Finland - will inform businesses about the ITER project and the procurement opportunities it offers, as well as to make them aware of available support to prepare and present proposals.

Gas and electricity market reports for the 3rd quarter of 2021 (14/02/2022)

Wholesale gas prices in Europe continued their sharp increase in the third quarter of the 2021, while electricity consumption returned to pre-pandemic levels.

Innovative actions and strategies to boost public awareness, trust and acceptance of trans-European energy infrastructure projects (14/02/2022)

Regulation on guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure identifies several energy infrastructure priorities to meet the EU's energy and climate policy objectives in terms of market integration, security of supply and sustainability.

Offshore renewable energy and grids (14/02/2022)

An analysis of visions towards 2050 for the Northern seas region and recommendations for upcoming scenario-building exercises.

Study on decommissioning of offshore oil and gas installations (14/02/2022)

A technical, legal and political analysis : final report.

Best practices and assessment of regulatory measures for cost-efficient integration of electric vehicles into the electricity grid (14/02/2022)

The main objective of this study is to identify the remaining technical and regulatory barriers to the development of smart charging and to propose and evaluate possible legislative and non-legislative policy measures addressing these barriers.

Study on the applicability of the regulatory framework for nuclear facilities to fusion facilities (14/02/2022)

The objective of this study is to consider the specific risks of fusion facilities and to develop a skeletal structure of a regulatory framework specific for fusion facilities.

Introduction to the Smart readiness indicator (SRI) (11/02/2022)

Check out how the SRI will raise awareness of the benefits promised by smart building technologies, such as building automation and electronic monitoring of building systems including heating, hot water, ventilation, lighting, etc.

Video competition for schools “Film4Energy Challenge” open until 31 March! (16/02/2022)

The "Film4Energy Challenge" encourages students aged 12-15 to create short videos on energy efficiency and benefits of saving energy.

Quarterly market reports confirm influence of global gas prices in EU in third quarter of 2021 (17/01/2022)

The latest quarterly EU energy market reports confirm influence of global gas prices in the EU and highlight that electricity consumption returned to pre-pandemic levels in the 3rd quarter of 2021.

25% of EU electricity production from nuclear sources (13/01/2022)

According to recent figures from Eurostat, 13 EU countries with nuclear electricity production generated 683 512 GWh of nuclear electricity in 2020.

EU economy greenhouse gas emissions: -24% since 2008 (13/01/2022)

Eurostat reports that in 2020, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated by economic activities of EU resident units stood at 3.5 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalents.

Haldor Topsøe signs €45 million funding deal with European Investment Bank to drive green energy transition (17/01/2022)

The transaction is supported by the European Fund for Strategic Investments, the main pillar of the European Commission's Investment Plan for Europe.

EU Taxonomy: Commission begins expert consultations on Complementary Delegated Act covering certain nuclear and gas activities (13/01/2022)

The European Commission has began consultations with the Member States Expert Group on Sustainable Finance and the Platform on Sustainable Finance on a draft text of a Taxonomy Complementary Delegated Act covering certain gas and nuclear activities.

EU energy consumption plummeted in 2020 (13/01/2022)

In 2020, primary energy consumption in the EU dropped sharply to 1 236 million tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe), which is 5.8% better than the efficiency target for 2020, thus clearly outperforming it.

‘Radiosensitivity’ of children (17/01/2022)

Health issues after radiation exposure at young age : EU Scientific Seminar 2020

Project Analysis to support the implementation in practice of Articles 8a-8c of Directive 2014/87/Euratom (17/01/2022)

The objective of this study was to support Member States in achieving consistent practical implementation of the provisions set out in the new Council Directive 2014/87/Euratom.

The Energy Poverty Advisory Hub (EPAH) (13/01/2022)

Awareness about energy poverty is growing across Europe. Discover what the EPAH initiative is about!

Digitalising the energy sector – EU action plan (24/01/2022)

Digital technologies can unleash the full potential of flexible energy generation and consumption in different sectors and enable more use of renewable energy. This action plan will help develop a competitive market for digital energy services and digital energy infrastructure that are cyber-secure, efficient and sustainable.

Coming soon: Public consultations on EU solar energy and Renewable energy projects permit-granting processes and PPAs (17/01/2022)

Two public consultations, one on the EU solar energy communication and one on Renewable energy projects – permit-granting processes and power-purchase agreements (PPAs) will be published this week.