Page 6 - European Energy Innovation - winter 2017 publication

Winter 2017 European Energy Innovation
6 CLEAN ENERGY FOR ALL EUROPEANS
Clean energy for All Europeans –
putting energy efficiency first
By Dominique Ristori, Director-General for Energy, European Commission
The EU energy system
is undergoing
profound and rapid of our economy.
transformations
prompted by the global
challenges of the
decarbonisation, the
decentralisation and digitalisation
In the wake of its commitments
under the Paris Agreement,
Europe is leading the global shift
to a modern low-carbon and
clean energy system. The energy
transition will be decisive for the
decarbonisation of our economy
since two thirds of greenhouse
gas emissions in the EU is
coming from the production and
consumption of energy.
At the same time, with the
growing share of renewable
energies installed at distribution
level, the energy system is
becoming more flexible and
decentralised. This calls for
changes in the way we build and
operate our energy systems as
well as for innovative solutions
such as digital technologies and
ICT to make the electricity
market fit.
Adopted by the Commission last
year, the Clean Energy for All
Europeans package intends to
modernise the energy system in
order to successfully achieve the
energy transition. This package
has three main goals: putting
energy efficiency first; achieving
global leadership in renewables
and providing a fair deal for
consumers. It is about adapting
all part of the energy system to
integrate and support energy
efficiency, renewable energies,
smart grids, home automation,
smarter cities as well as to create
major breakthroughs in cleaner
and digital technologies.
The package makes it clear
that energy efficiency should
be the main driver towards a
sustainable society. That is why
the European Commission is
promoting ambitious policies that
will accelerate energy efficiency.
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