EU energy policy
Vast amounts of the UK’s energy policy is touched by legislation or policy initiatives agreed with other countries in the EU. For example,
- The functioning of the EU’s, and therefore UK’s, internal gas and electricity markets
- Renewable energy targets (electricity, biofuels, heat) – which will play a part in achieving the EU’s overall 20% target for renewable energy in the energy mix, and the UK’s national target of 15%.
- Energy efficiency targets, standards and labelling
- And others
EU Gas Security of Supply - December 2010
The EU Gas Security of Supply Regulation comes into force on 2nd December 2010, repealing Directive 2004/67/EC. The regulation will improve EU downstream gas infrastructure, planning and coordination between member states in order to enhance the resilience of the European gas market. The regulation is directly applicable in UK law.
EU Third Internal Energy Package
On the 3 September 2009 the EU released the Third Internal Energy Package, which furthers the development of an open and fair internal energy market established through previous EU legislation. The Government is currently consulting on the implementation of the Third Package in the UK energy market. Full information can be found on the Consultation on the implementation of the EU Third Internal Energy Package web page.
Decarbonising the EU
The EU has agreed the following greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions targets:
- A 20% reduction in GHG emissions (on 1990 levels) by 2020. There is a commitment to increase this to 30% as part of a global and comprehensive agreement for the period beyond 2012, provided that other developed countries commit themselves to comparable emission reductions and that developing countries contribute adequately according to their responsibilities and respective capabilities.
- The EU’s objective is to reduce GHG emission by 80-95% by 2050 in the context of action by developed countries as a group, as agreed at Environment Council in October 2009.
Meeting the EU targets for 2050 will require significant changes to every aspect of the EU’s economy since a ‘business as usual’ approach will not deliver the required emissions reductions. In addition, how the EU moves to a low carbon economy is closely linked with energy security, EU competitiveness and jobs and growth. The key changes to the EU’s economy are almost certain to include:
- Reducing carbon emissions from electricity generation to near zero
- Greater interconnection of transmission networks to allow peaks in renewables generation in one part of Europe to compensate for troughs in renewables generation elsewhere.
- Electrification of transport i.e. replacing petrol and diesel fuelled vehicles with vehicles powered by electricity
- Reducing carbon emissions from heat generation
- ‘Smarter’ EU electricity transmission and distribution networks. This will be key to managing more intermittent and distributed renewable generation; improving efficiency; influencing consumer behaviour; and facilitating a widespread roll out of electric vehicles and electrical heating technologies
The transition to a low carbon economy will also require investment, particularly in electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure.
