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Today, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has presented the EU’s strategy to weather the energy crisis this winter, including the ‘Save gas for a safe winter’ and a European Gas Demand Reduction Plan [1]. Plans include additional measures to national contingency plans, guidelines for action at the national level in case of disruption, and a strategy to reduce energy consumption in households and public buildings.
The text sets a voluntary target of gas demand reduction at 15% until next spring. This target could become mandatory in case of emergency, a so-called ‘Union alert’.
If approved by member states in an Energy Council next week, it would be the first time that the European Union sets a target on fossil gas reduction.
Rita Tedesco, Head of Energy Transition, Environmental Coalition on Standards (ECOS):
‘The first-ever EU target for consuming less fossil gas could be a sign of a new reality. This target marks the beginning of a structural phase-out of gas. The EU must now boost further energy efficiency and renewables to fill that gap. Stepping up the use of coal or oil must be avoided at all costs.
The target is an extraordinary measure, which will soon become ordinary. We need to remove fossil gas sector by sector, starting with the low-hanging fruit. For example, our homes should become gas-free as soon as possible. Alternatives such as heat pumps are ready for a massive roll-out.’
Temporary fuel switches
The Commission’s plan allows for derogations in industrial emissions legislation for ‘fuel switching’, opening the door to temporary extended use of polluting alternatives to gas as long as this ‘does not compromise the medium-term decarbonisation objectives’.
In concrete terms, it allows for derogations in the Industrial Emissions Directive. This could allow member states to postpone the shutdown of polluting power plants, among other measures.
While planning for disruptions is needed, ECOS highlights that EU leaders should keep sight of the medium- and long-term objectives: energy independence, affordable bills, and meeting our climate commitments.
We have the tools: ecodesign and energy labelling, the phase-out of gas boilers, smart grid deployment, and massive building renovation. They must be prioritised, maximised and placed at the top of the priority agenda and given large-scale funding to roll them out. Public authorities must perform thorough checks and make sure that switching to polluting alternatives only happens under truly exceptional circumstances, and is kept to a minimum.
Environmental measures should always be the norm, and should not be derogated from as a way to respond to short-term needs.
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