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 - 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

Passive house construction. Energy efficiency building to reduce its ecological footprint. Low energy. Wood house.

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. Closing statements by Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, Jerzy BUZEK (EPP, PL), Jens GEIER (S&D, DE), and Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES (S&D, ES), Rapporteurs.

Reform of the energy and electricity markets: Closing statements by Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, Jerzy BUZEK (EPP, PL), Jens GEIER (S&D, DE), and Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES (S&D, ES), Rapporteurs

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. Second part of MEPs debate.

Reform of the energy and electricity markets: MEPs debate (part 2)

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. First part of MEPs debate.

Reform of the energy and electricity markets: MEPs debate (part 1)

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. Opening statements by Jerzy BUZEK (EPP, PL), Jens GEIER (S&D, DE), Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES (S&D, ES), Rapporteurs, Maria GRAPINI (S&D, RO) on behalf of IMCO Committee, Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Reform of the energy and electricity markets: opening statements by Jerzy BUZEK (EPP, PL), Jens GEIER (S&D, DE), Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES (S&D, ES), Rapporteurs, Maria GRAPINI (S&D, RO) IMCO Committee and Didier REYNDERS, EU Commissioner for Justice

After the debate and the vote, Ciarán CUFFE (Greens/EFA, IE), rapporteur, holds a press conference on a new directive to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse-gas emissions from the buildings sector, and make it climate neutral by 2050. This transcription is the result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press conference by Ciarán CUFFE (Greens/EFA, IE), rapporteur on the energy performance of buildings directive

MEPs debate on the following topics: The subscription by the EU to additional shares in the capital of the EBRD; Regulation (EU) No 2022/869 of the EP and of the Council; Industrial Emissions Directive; Industrial Emissions Portal; Definition of criminal offences and penalties for the violation of Union restrictive measures; Amending Council Directive 96/53/EC laying down for certain road vehicles circulating; Use of railway infrastructure capacity in the single European railway area; Amending certain financial services and investment; Energy performance of buildings; Horizontal cybersecurity requirements for products with digital elements; Green Claims Directive; Liability for defective products; Amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 as regards the digital labelling of EU fertilising products; European Maritime Safety Agency; Council decision inviting Member States to ratify the Violence and Harassment Convention; and Extending Rule 168 of EP's rules.

Voting session, including the final vote on the Energy performance of buildings Directive

Plans to reduce the energy consumption and greenhouse-gas emissions from the buildings sector is debated on Monday and voted on by plenary on Tuesday. The revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, agreed with the Council in December, aims to substantially reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy consumption in the EU building sector by 2030, and have it achieve climate neutrality by 2050. The new rules also mean more of the worst-performing buildings will undergo renovation, and information-sharing on energy performance will be improved. New buildings must be zero-emission as of 2030, and new buildings occupied or owned by public authorities must be zero-emission as of 2028. Closing statements by Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy and Ciaran CUFFE (Greens/EFA, IE), Rapporteur.

Energy performance of buildings: Closing statements by Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy and Ciaran CUFFE (Greens/EFA, IE), Rapporteur

Plans to reduce the energy consumption and greenhouse-gas emissions from the buildings sector is debated on Monday and voted on by plenary on Tuesday. The revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, agreed with the Council in December, aims to substantially reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy consumption in the EU building sector by 2030, and have it achieve climate neutrality by 2050. The new rules also mean more of the worst-performing buildings will undergo renovation, and information-sharing on energy performance will be improved. New buildings must be zero-emission as of 2030, and new buildings occupied or owned by public authorities must be zero-emission as of 2028. First part of MEPs debate.

Energy performance of buildings: MEPs debate (part 1)

Plans to reduce the energy consumption and greenhouse-gas emissions from the buildings sector is debated on Monday and voted on by plenary on Tuesday. The revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, agreed with the Council in December, aims to substantially reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy consumption in the EU building sector by 2030, and have it achieve climate neutrality by 2050. The new rules also mean more of the worst-performing buildings will undergo renovation, and information-sharing on energy performance will be improved. New buildings must be zero-emission as of 2030, and new buildings occupied or owned by public authorities must be zero-emission as of 2028. For residential buildings, member states have to put in place measures to ensure a reduction in the average level of primary energy used of at least 16% by 2030 and at least 20-22% by 2035. Second part of MEPs debate.

Energy performance of buildings: MEPs debate (part 2)

Plans to reduce the energy consumption and greenhouse-gas emissions from the buildings sector is debated on Monday and voted on by plenary on Tuesday. The revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, agreed with the Council in December, aims to substantially reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy consumption in the EU building sector by 2030, and have it achieve climate neutrality by 2050. The new rules also mean more of the worst-performing buildings will undergo renovation, and information-sharing on energy performance will be improved. New buildings must be zero-emission as of 2030, and new buildings occupied or owned by public authorities must be zero-emission as of 2028. Opening statements by Ciaran CUFFE (Greens/EFA, IE), Rapporteur, Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy and Radan KANEV (EPP, BG), EP Committee on Environment. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Energy performance of buildings: Opening statements by Ciaran CUFFE (Greens/EFA, IE), Rapporteur, Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy and Radan KANEV (EPP, BG), EP Committee on Environment

MEPs debate and vote on a new directive to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse-gas emissions from the buildings sector, and make it climate neutral by 2050. The revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, agreed with the Council in December, aims to substantially reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy consumption in the EU building sector by 2030, and have it achieve climate neutrality by 2050. The new rules also mean more of the worst-performing buildings will undergo renovation, and information-sharing on energy performance will be improved. New buildings must be zero-emission as of 2030, and new buildings occupied or owned by public authorities must be zero-emission as of 2028. For residential buildings, member states have to put in place measures to ensure a reduction in the average level of primary energy used of at least 16% by 2030 and at least 20-22% by 2035.

Energy performance of buildings: extracts from the debate and from the vote

The "Energy Cells" is a project that consists of a system of four energy storage devices (batteries) with a total capacity of 200 megawatts (MW) and 200 megawatt-hours (MWh) into Lithuania’s energy system. Energy Cells has four 50 MW and 50 MWh energy storage facilities at transformer substations in Vilnius, Šiauliai, Alytus, and Utena. It is currently the largest project in the Baltics and one of the largest of its kind in Europe. Energy Cells received 87.6 million euros from the NextGenerationEU, the Recovery and Resilience Facility under the “New Generation Lithuania” plan for the installation of the energy storage system. The total value of the project, which will provide Lithuania with the instantaneous power reserve and the possibility to operate autonomously in isolated mode, is of 109 million euros.

Infoclip: Integrated system for batteries "Energy Cells" - Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) - Vilnius (Lithuania)

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. MEPs debate (part 2)

Joint debate - Fit for 55: MEPs debate (part 2)

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. MEPs debate (part 1)

Joint debate - Fit for 55: MEPs debate (part 1)

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 Alexandr VONDRA - ENVI Committee; Bas EICKHOUT - ENVI Committee; Michael BLOSS - ITRE Committee; Tom BERENDSEN - TRAN Committee; Niklas NIENASS - REGI Committee; Alice KUHNKE - FEMM Committee; Sara SKYTTEDAL - ITRE Committee. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Joint debate - Fit for 55: Opening statements by the Alexandr VONDRA - ENVI; Bas EICKHOUT- ENVI; Michael BLOSS - ITRE; Tom BERENDSEN - TRAN; Niklas NIENASS - REGI; Alice KUHNKE - FEMM; Sara SKYTTEDAL - ITRE

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 statement by Adina VĂLEAN, European Commissioner for Transport. The transcript is the result of an automated process. Please check against delivery

Joint debate - Fit for 55: Opening statement by Adina VĂLEAN, European Commissioner for Transport

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.

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