In November 2016, the European Commission released the Clean Energy for All Europeans package (aka the “Winter Package”). The Winter Package is an ambitious proposal for an energy policy framework to effect change by 2030. The legislation recognizes, among other things, that energy efficiency is the foundation for the energy transition and that “Efficiency First” must be a guiding policy principle in energy policymaking.

The Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP) and Energy Efficiency Watch are hosting a solutions workshop on the role of energy efficiency in the Winter Package and the key issues and challenges around these new proposals.

Efficiency can play a powerful role in delivering the goals of the Energy Union, but only if the legislation and regulations get each part of the Winter Package right. We need:

• A well-designed Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) as a driver for energy efficiency improvements across the economy;
• An ambitious Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) to deliver efficient and “smarter” building retrofits and to avoid lock-in of inefficient new buildings;
• An Internal Energy Market that puts demand-side resources on an equal footing with the supply side; and
• A robust monitoring, reporting, and course-correction regime under the Governance Regulation.

RAP and the Buildings Performance Institute Europe (BPIE) have carried out a detailed assessment of the Winter Package, including these key elements. In some cases, the current proposals are adequate but in other cases they will not deliver on the promise of Efficiency First. Our findings will be presented by Richard Cowart, Edith Bayer, and Dr. Jan Rosenow at this workshop.

Energy Efficiency Watch (EEW) has analysed the efforts of EU-28 Member States under the National Energy Efficiency Action Plans (NEEAPs) through document analysis, a survey with 1,100 experts on the state of implementation, and dedicated workshops on the business perspective. Key policy conclusions will be presented by Daniel Becker, followed by a debate on the guiding question as to which underlying “narratives” reinforce implementation of good practice policy instruments.

The two presentations will be followed by a discussion and debate with expert panellists:

• Diana Barglazan and Paolo Tosoratti (European Commission)
• Alex Chambris (Danfoss)
• Mariangiola Fabbri (Buildings Performance Institute Europe)
• Dominique Osso (EDF)
• Dora Petroula (Climate Action Network)

The debate will cover key questions including:

• How do we ensure that energy efficiency is taken fully into account in policy planning?
• Is the Winter Package getting the balance right between energy efficiency and renewables?
• How do we make sure energy efficiency is considered seriously before we lock in new energy supply infrastructure?
• Which role does (and should) energy efficiency play in energy market design and energy regulation?
• Are the levels of ambition for end-use savings set by the EED and EPBD sufficient?
• How do we ensure that we stay on track?