Here are updates on some of the on-going issues in Brussels.
Ecodesign
For those interested in Ecodesign and products, the 2012-2014 Working Plan, which was to have been published already, is still not available. In May EiD was told that it was still in inter-service consultation and it had been hoped it would have been adopted before summer. Alas, no. EiD was informed at the end of August that the Commission was hoping for October release. Now we are told that it is still in discussion and it is hoped to be released by the end of November. Stay tuned.
Renewables
On October 31st, Günther Oettinger, the European commissioner for energy, endorsed the controversial idea of having a new binding target for renewables after the existing 20% target for 2020 at an event in Brussels.
“I think we need a new binding target for renewables,” he said at the launch of a new Energy Partnership of gas and renewables companies. “We need a clear outlook for renewables, and so some more obligations.”
From the Commission’s 2013 work programme published October 23rd
Energy efficiency is a key area for competitiveness. The Commission will reinforce its cooperation with Member States on the implementation of the energy efficiency directive, the energy labelling and ecodesign legislation. Implementing the strategy for Key Enabling Technologies will also be a key lever of competitiveness. The Commission will deepen its work to help SMEs facing the challenge of financing and implement the Action Plan for entrepreneurship. Support from the European Regional Development Fund and the COSME programme [editor’s note: Programme for the Competitiveness of enterprises and SMEs 2014-2020] will be ready to roll out when the new financing period starts in 2014. New programming of the European Social Fund will also include a particular focus on the provision of skills necessary for successful transition from school to work and for increasing employability of the workforce.
Labelling of tyres
Tyre labelling for passenger cars and light trucks took effect from 1 November 2012 under European Regulation (EC) No. 1222/2009. This new regulation brings a major advance in consumer information on tyre safety (wet braking) and the tyre’s impact on the environment (rolling resistance and external noise). As with many other labels, fuel-efficiency is graded from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient).
Nearly-zero energy buildings
On the 24th of September, eceee organised a workshop on behalf of the European Commission and the consortium contracted by the European Commission to define common principles for nearly-zero energy buildings under the EPBD. The minutes of that workshop are now available on the eceee website at: http://www.eceee.org/eceee_events/towards-nearly-zero-energy-buildings
Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 