In this podcast we explore the potential ecological benefits of increasing our capacity to store energy, especially from renewable sources. As the availability of some renewable energy sources is variable and intermittent, devising new energy storage capacities could ensure energy security and reliability and help the EU in its efforts to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.

EPRS Science and Technology Podcast - What if increased energy storage could help fix climate change?

The energy crisis of 2022 has brought new challenges for the EU electricity market. Concerns over very high prices, security of energy supply, and the need to increase decarbonisation have sparked discussions on the need to redesign the EU's electricity market. After the short-term measures adopted to mitigate the impact of the energy crisis, the European Commission has unveiled its much-awaited plan to reform the electricity market, with a triple objective: to shelter consumers from excessive bills, boost renewables and enhance competitiveness.

EPRS Policy podcast - Revamping the EU electricity market

The EU solar energy strategy proposed under the REPowerEU plan aims to make solar energy a cornerstone of the EU energy system. Boosting renewable energy is also an important part of the European Green Deal in the context of the green transition towards climate neutrality. Solar energy is affordable, clean and has been the fastest-growing energy source in the last decade. It can be used for electricity and heating, while also helping reduce EU dependency on energy imports by replacing them with domestic production. EU measures to boost solar energy include making the installation of solar panels on the rooftops of new buildings obligatory within a specific timeframe, streamlining permitting procedures for renewable energy projects, improving the skills base in the solar sector and boosting the EU's capacity to manufacture photovoltaic panels.

EPRS policy podcast - Solar energy in the EU

<p>By making energy more efficient, Europeans will see their energy bills reduced. In addition, Europe will diminish its reliance on external suppliers of oil and gas, improve local air quality and protect the climate.</p>

<p>By 2030, energy efficiency in the EU must have improved by 32.5%, whereas the share of energy from renewables should make up at least 32% of the EU’s gross final consumption. Both targets are to be reviewed by 2023. These targets can only be raised, not lowered. Lower energy bills and the right to become a renewable self-consumer will be the result.</p>

#EUelections2019 - Clean energy and energy efficiency

Voting session

MEPs debate and take a final vote on the reform of the EU electricity market to protect consumers from sudden price shocks and on new rules to facilitate the uptake of renewable and low-carbon gases, including hydrogen, on the EU’s gas market.

Plenary debate - Reform of the energy and electricity markets

EP Plenary session - Powering Europe’s future - advancing the fusion industry for energy independence and innovation

EP Plenary session - Rise of energy prices and fighting energy poverty

EP Mini-Plenary Session - Joint debate - Reform of the energy and electricity markets

EP Plenary session - Commission statement - State of the EU solar industry in the light of unfair competition

EP Plenary session - Commission statements - State of the Energy Union

AGRI Public hearing on '  Energy efficiency on farms '

Press Conference on the revision of the Renewable Energy Directive

EP Plenary Session - Short presentation Implementation of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive

Press conference on ' Clean Energy Package '

Plenary session week 3 2018 in Strasbourg - VOTES followed by explanations of votes - Promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources - Report: José Blanco López

Plenary session week 3 2018 in Strasbourg - Debates on clean energy

Plenary session week 3 2018 in Strasbourg - Debate on energy efficiency, renewables and the governance of the Energy Union.

Plenary session Week 24 2017 in Strasbourg - Energy efficiency labelling - Compensation for wrongly labelled energy-related products - Binding annual greenhouse gas emission reductions to meet commitments under the Paris Agreement

ITRE roundtable on the ' Energy Efficiency Directive '

The facade of the Henkel Building, former wash powder productions Plant now headquarters of the Danish Building and Property Agency in Copenhagen Denmark, May 24, 2012. Denmark renovates the heat supply in historical buildings with more energy efficiency technology.

Construction fair in Brussels: employment, industry, energy saving, energy.

Energie solaire, energie verte

Renewable energy

MEPs debate on the Fit for 55 package. The new law on new energy saving targets requires an 11.7% reduction in primary and final energy consumption by 2030 (relative to 2020 projections). Every year until 2030, 1.5% of energy savings must be made, starting at 1.3% until 2025 and increasing to 1.9% by the end of 2030. Opening statements by Radan KANEV (EPP, BG), Rapporteur on Industrial Emissions Directive and on Industrial Emissions Portal, Petar VITANOV (S&D, BG), Rapporteur on Deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure, Jörgen WARBORN (EPP, SE), Rapporteur on Sustainable maritime fuels (FuelEU Maritime Initiative), Niels FUGLSANG (S&D, DK), Rapporteur on Energy efficiency (recast), Niels FUGLSANG (S&D, DK), Rapporteur on Energy efficiency (recast), Tiemo WÖLKEN - ENVI Committee, Rasmus ANDRESEN - ITRE Committee, Benoît LUTGEN - AGRI Committee. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Joint debate - Fit for 55: Opening statements by the Rapporteur on Industrial Emissions Directive and on Industrial Emissions Portal; Rapporteur on Deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure; Rapporteur on Sustainable maritime fuels

This infoclip illustrates energy poverty with a gender perspective: explosion of energy poverty that is particularly affecting single mothers and single women. Illustrations with NGO with volunteers, preparing and distributing hot meals for people in need, at home woman saving money, reducing heat, fuel station filling car's tank.

Infoclip: Gender aspects of energy poverty

The EU energy performance of buildings directive (EPBD) was adopted in 2010 and revised in 2018, with a view to improving the energy performance and increasing the rate of renovation of commercial and residential buildings in the EU. In 2020, Commission President Von der Leyen presented a plan to reduce the EU's greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 % in 2030 (compared to 1990). This would require a series of coordinated actions at EU level, including the revision of existing energy and climate legislation. As part of the Fit for 55 package, the Commission adopted a legislative proposal to revise the EPBD on 15 December 2021. In the European Parliament, the file was allocated to the ITRE committee with Ciarán Cuffe (Greens/EFA, Ireland) as rapporteur. The footage shows a house being insulated to improve its energy performance.

Infoclip: Energy performance of buildings - insulation

The EU energy performance of buildings directive (EPBD) was adopted in 2010 and revised in 2018, with a view to improving the energy performance and increasing the rate of renovation of commercial and residential buildings in the EU. In 2020, Commission President Von der Leyen presented a plan to reduce the EU's greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 % in 2030 (compared to 1990). This would require a series of coordinated actions at EU level, including the revision of existing energy and climate legislation. As part of the Fit for 55 package, the Commission adopted a legislative proposal to revise the EPBD on 15 December 2021. In the European Parliament, the file was allocated to the ITRE committee with Ciarán Cuffe (Greens/EFA, Ireland) as rapporteur. The footage shows prospective clients visiting different real estate agencies to discuss the energy performance of housing.

Infoclip: Fit for 55 - Energy Performance of Buildings

This infoclip shows the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure with electric cars, electric and hybrid public transport, hydrogen train and hydrogen refuel stations for trucks . On 14 July 2021, the European Commission presented a package of proposals to equip the EU's climate, energy, land use, transport and taxation policies to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 % by 2030, compared with 1990 levels – the 'fit for 55' package. The package includes a proposal to revise the 2014 directive on alternative fuels infrastructure and turn it into a regulation.

Infoclip: Deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure

During the voting session in the European Parliament on the 5th October 2022, MEPs vote on motions for resolutions on the EU's response to the increase in energy prices in Europe.

Voting session: Motions for resolutions - The EU’s response to the increase in energy prices in Europe

On 19 November 2020, the European Commission published an EU Strategy to harness the potential of offshore renewable energy for a climate neutral future. The Offshore Renewable Strategy was widely anticipated as part of the European Green Deal. The Offshore Renewable Strategy aims to dramatically increase the EU's production of electricity from offshore renewable energy sources from the current 12 gigawatts (GW) to 60GW by 2030 and 300GW by 2050. MEPs say that a net-zero emissions economy requires renewable energy to be deployed on an unprecedented scale. MEPs highlight that the cost of offshore wind has fallen dramatically in the last two decades (declining by 48% between 2010 and 2020), making it one of the most competitively priced sources of energy. This illustrative footage shows regular and aerial drone views of traditional wind energy as well as aerial drone views of an offshore wind energy.

Infoclip: Renewable energy – wind turbines

MEPs debate on a revision of the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED), the law that sets energy saving targets in both primary and final energy consumption in the EU. The draft legislation would require member states to collectively ensure a reduction of energy consumption of at least 40% by 2030 in final energy consumption and 42.5% in primary energy consumption compared to 2007 figures. Closing statements by Niels FUGLSANG (S&D, DK) Rapporteur and Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy.

Energy efficiency (recast): closing statements by Niels FUGLSANG (S&D, DK) Rapporteur and Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy

MEPs debate on a revision of the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED), the law that sets energy saving targets in both primary and final energy consumption in the EU. The draft legislation would require member states to collectively ensure a reduction of energy consumption of at least 40% by 2030 in final energy consumption and 42.5% in primary energy consumption compared to 2007 figures.

Energy efficiency (recast): MEPs debate

MEPs debate on a revision of the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED), the law that sets energy saving targets in both primary and final energy consumption in the EU. The draft legislation would require member states to collectively ensure a reduction of energy consumption of at least 40% by 2030 in final energy consumption and 42.5% in primary energy consumption compared to 2007 figures. Opening statements by Niels FUGLSANG (S&D, DK) Rapporteur, Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy, Ville NIINISTÖ (Greens/EFA, FI) ENVI; Tom BERENDSEN (EPP, NL) TRAN and by Diana RIBA I GINER (Greens/EFA, ES) FEMM.

Energy efficiency (recast): opening statements by Niels FUGLSANG (S&D, DK) Rapporteur, Kadri SIMSON, EU Commissioner for Energy, Ville NIINISTÖ (Greens/EFA, FI), Tom BERENDSEN (EPP, NL) and by Diana RIBA I GINER (Greens/EFA, ES)

This infoclip illustrates the directive that establishes common principles and rules to remove barriers, stimulate investments and drive cost reductions in renewable energy technologies, and empowers citizens, consumers and businesses to participate in the clean energy transformation. Views of offshore wind energy installation; residential solar power panels, industrial fermentation conversion of organic products into methane biogaz; production site of pellets; hydrogen hybrid power plant; heats pumps using the water of the river. Rights restriction: at 00:00:57:00 : copyright Monnaie-Groupe Decube.

Infoclip: Renewable Energy Directive

MEPs quiz the Commission on the EU’s energy autonomy and the strategic importance of renewables, energy interconnections and efficiency.

Europe’s Energy Autonomy: extracts from the debate

MEPs quiz the Commission on the EU’s energy autonomy and the strategic importance of renewables, energy interconnections and efficiency. Question Time to Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy.

Europe’s Energy Autonomy: the strategic importance of renewables and energy interconnections and efficiency - Question Time to Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy (Part 3/3)

Europe’s Energy Autonomy: the strategic importance of renewables and energy interconnections and efficiency - Question Time to Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy (Part 2/3)

Europe’s Energy Autonomy: the strategic importance of renewables and energy interconnections and efficiency - Question Time to Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy (Part 1/3)

MEPs quiz the Commission on the EU’s energy autonomy and the strategic importance of renewables, energy interconnections and efficiency. Introductory statement by Heidi HAUTALA (Greens/EFA, FI), EP vicepresident.

Question time to the Commission: Introductory statement by Heidi HAUTALA (Greens/EFA, FI), EP vicepresident

MEPs debate with the Council and the Commission the “REPowerEU” strategy, presented on 8 March, and designed to make Europe independent from Russian fossil fuels well before 2030, starting with gas. The strategy also includes measures to tackle the surge in energy prices and to replenish gas stocks for next winter. Second part of the debate.

The Power of the EU – Joint European Action for more affordable, secure and sustainable energy: MEPs debate (part 2/2)

MEPs debate with the Council and the Commission the “REPowerEU” strategy, presented on 8 March, and designed to make Europe independent from Russian fossil fuels well before 2030, starting with gas. The strategy also includes measures to tackle the surge in energy prices and to replenish gas stocks for next winter. First part of the debate.

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