2023-07-15 10:22:40
The 27 EU countries will have to guarantee, collectively, a reduction in energy consumption of at least 11.7% by 2030 (compared to 2020 projections). The European Parliament predicted it on Tuesday 12 July, which also approved two other directives in the field of mobility in the context of the Fit for 55 legislation.
Firstly, in Strasbourg, the directive on energy efficiency was revised – adopted with 471 votes in favour, 147 against and 17 abstentions – which indicates a reduction in the consumption of primary and final energy. To achieve the goal of reducing energy consumption by at least 11.7% by 2030, the legislation provides for 1.5% average annual energy savings. Specifically, until 2025 1.3% will have to be saved every year, then the percentage will be progressively increased up to 1.9% by the end of 2030.
The savings targets will have to be achieved through local, regional and national measures, in different sectors. Particular attention will be paid to the public sector: Member States will have to ensure that at least 3% of public buildings are refurbished each year into nearly zero-energy or zero-emission buildings. The directive also establishes new requirements for efficient district heating systems. The results will be controlled with a monitoring mechanism that is not currently better defined.
Sustainable mobility according to the Fit for 55 package
The EU Parliament also definitively adopted the new rules on infrastructure for alternative fuels, with 514 votes in favour, 52 against and 74 abstentions, and on sustainable marine fuels, with 555 votes in favour, 48 against and 25 abstentions.
More precisely, with the first directive, MEPs have obtained that, by 2026, electric charging stations for cars, with a minimum power of 400 kilowatts, will be installed at least every 60 kilometers along the main corridors of the TEN-T network and that the power of the network increases to 600 kW by 2028. For trucks and buses, charging stations are planned every 120 kilometres. Furthermore, by 2027 the Commission will have to create an EU “database” on alternative fuels to provide consumers with information on availability, waiting times or prices at different stations.
Once both directives have been formally adopted by the Council, the rules on infrastructure for alternative fuels will apply from six months after their entry into force, while those on sustainable marine fuels will apply from 1 January 2025.
“By adopting the new rules, Parliament is responding to citizens’ expectations to improve existing transport infrastructures from an ecological point of view and to promote environmentally friendly maritime transport”, writes the institutional website.
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