Czech Business Today

The cheapest energy is the one that is never used – that is the motto of the new ‘Clean Energy for All Europeans’ Package which aims to modernise European economy and implement one of the European Commission’s flagship initiatives, the Energy Union. One of the main initiatives of the package is the revision of the Energy Efficiency Directive that sets new, more ambitious and binding target of 30 % energy savings for 2030, up from 27 %.

Possible impacts of the new proposal on European and Czech economy were discussed by experts from EU institutions, Czech public administrations, private and non-pro t sector on the 2nd of December in the European House in Prague. “According to the European Commission, the energy effciency is the most cost-effective way of reaching the goals set in the Energy Union strategy while stimulating economic growth, creation of new jobs and investment in green technologies”, said Radoš Horáček of the European Commission.

The higher target should create additional 0.4 % GDP and 400,000 new jobs and should lead to lower energy prices for both businesses and consumers. While some voices of the European Parliament advocate an even higher target of 40 %, Czech MEP Evžen Tošenovský does not belong to them. He calls for thorough impact assessment before increasing the target as the change could jeopardize economic stability and could be a barrier to innovation and investment. Vladimír Sochor of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic stressed that energy savings have to be economically pro table. He underlined the need to create investment funding programmes at national level that would boost investment into green and efficient technologies. On the other hand, it is necessary to realize that EU support from structural funds will be significantly lower after 2020 when the current programming period is over.

One of the areas with the highest energy savings potential is the buildings sector. “Only the buildings themselves have the potential to create 37 % of energy savings given the proactive approach of the government”, said Petr Holub of the Chance for Building alliance. Zuzana Krejčiříková of ČEZ, a.s. stressed that it is crucial to make analysis of potential savings in individual sectors, which is missing now. The higher energy efficiency target will cost Czech economy up to 32.5 bn. EUR and it is necessary to ensure that energy savings are cost-effective.