EU energy end-uses analysis and 2050 Low-Carbon scenarios - part I - KEP energy Magazine - KEP energy

The main targets of the European Union (EU) strategy in the climate and energy fields are the Green House Gases (GHG) emissions cut and the energy dependence reduction, in order to ensure the supply surety on the medium and long term, and to fulfil the international commitments, both respect to the Kyoto Protocol and respect to the United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The final energy demand reduction is, together with the fuel-switching from fossil fuels to Renewable Energy Sources (RES), one of the main cards available to the EU for influence the global energy market, and for ensure the supply surety on the medium and long term. Also, the final energy demand reduction is suitable to achieve the targets established from the EU in 2020 through the “20-20-20 Package”: 20% GHG emissions cut in comparison to 1990; 20% RES share in gross final energy consumption; 20% energy efficiency increase.

The report “Energy 2020 – A strategy for competitive, sustainable and secure energy” indicates that the energy efficiency is the fulcrum of the EU strategy in 2020, aimed to decoupling the energy consumption from the economic growth. The report “Action plan for energy efficiency: realising the potential”  underlines the high energy efficiency potential currently available. The energy targets achievement under the condition of parallel economic effectiveness is a very relevant topic across the EU policy in the climate and energy fields.

Aim of the paper is the EU final energy demand analysis, both in the current configuration and in the 2050 foreseen configuration, through a macrosectoral criteria based on statistical and surveys data and reports published from the European Commission. The analysis is carried out focusing on the buildings sector, and highlighting the RES role.