Recently voted-in EU Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) is expected to start to be implemented under Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Council during the first six months of 2013. EED includes several provisions that could be of special interest to industrial companies and businesses, such as energy audits, energy provider obligations, financing.
If the EU EED is complemented with European Competitiveness Report 2012: A stronger European Industry for Growth and Economic Recovery, published this month (October 2012) by DG Enterprise & Industry, it gives a strong signal that European Union realizes the crucial role of manufacturing in Europe and potentials for energy efficiency. Furthermore, it positions innovation, energy efficiency and sustainability at the core of competitiveness. There are clearly busy and exciting times ahead.
What can be expected from the Irish Presidency? EU Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger in his latest visit to Ireland noted that “In energy efficiency, Ireland is one of the most innovative Member States” and that continuing commitment by the Irish Government to deliver 20% energy efficiency savings is “good news for Ireland's people and good news for the EU.”
In industrial energy efficiency Ireland has an exceptional record in innovation and support of manufacturing industries. Organizations such as the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) have been driving successful initiatives in energy management systems (EnMS), SME support, financing energy efficiency and others. Very much reflecting EEIP own view, speaking at EEIP Congress in Berlin, Declan Meally (SEAI Head of Energy Demand Management section) noted that “energy efficiency is good, but energy management is better.”
Seeing that the Irish regulators and expert organizations have a solid views on what is needed and how manufacturing industries (as well as SMEs) should be supported in improving their energy performance, should we expect this to positively influence its EU Presidency. We hope so.
Ireland has been one of the forerunners on energy innovation and research support. When speaking about energy policy priorities for the Irish EU Presidency, Lucinda Creighton (Minister of State for European Affairs) noted that “in addition to handling the significant legislative agenda, Ireland will use the Presidency to focus attention on the application of new and developing technologies to boost energy efficiency, sustainability and distribution. […] This will also be used to promote Ireland’s reputation as a center for energy research and development and to seek ways of increasing energy efficiency and security to underpin the EU’s economic recovery.”
It is expected that this drive for European economic recovery via energy efficiency initiatives will form the part of the agenda for the Ministerial meeting being planned in Dublin in March 2013.
EEIP is looking forward to integration of energy management systems forming the basis of the coming initiatives. In words of Declan Meally “Innovation will come through integration. We are seeing innovation in all areas though our working groups – in Data centres, Food and Dairy industry and others but all driven by the EnMS as it is getting industry to understand their energy in much more detail and then look for new ways to address the issues.“
by Dusan Jakovljevic
Irish EU Presidency
