News 03 May 2022 News from SKAO
The new Energy Efficiency Directive and the CO2 Performance Ladder
The Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) has existed since 2012, but as part of the Fit for 55 programme it is being revised, and strengthened.
The targets for reducing energy consumption by 2030 will become more ambitious: -39% primary and -36% final energy use. Carbon budgeting will be the basis of the directive and whether the EED applies to companies will be based on energy use, rather than turnover or FTE. Therefore it will target the largest users: organisations using 10 terajoules or more per year will be required to be audited every 4 years, while those consuming 100TJ or more will be required to also implement an energy management system.
Public authorities will also have to get to work: the Commission proposes that the public sector should renovate 3% of its buildings every year. One thing won’t change: the principle of energy efficiency remains central - all energy not used is a positive, and savings are favoured over renewable generation.
The Ladder is a proven and effective energy and CO2 management system, with energy efficiency as its foundation. That is why a CO2 Performance Ladder certificate counts as an alternative way of fulfilling the current EED in the Netherlands. The Ladder can therefore contribute to the EED goals both for 2030 and in general. At the same time, the expansion and tightening of the EED will motivate more companies to gain insight into both their greenhouse gas emissions and energy use and, crucially, to reduce them. The CO2 Performance Ladder is an extremely suitable instrument to do this.
Thus the new EED strengthens the ambition around energy efficiency and the Ladder helps to translate that ambition into reality.