PROCEEDINGS OF THIS WORKSHOP AVAILABLE HERE
This workshop aims at discussing the implications of integrating Energy Efficiency First (EE1st) in heating and cooling plans, how it could be done. This will be illustrated through the feedback from the ENEFIRST Plus’ pilot case done by CRES in Greece, as well as the ADEME experience of the “ ENR’Choix ” approach in France.
The EE1st principle has been adopted in the EU legislation as part of the Governance Regulation in December 2018, first with a strong link with the National Energy and Climate Plans. Since 2018, the revisions of EU laws dealing with energy have all introduced a reference to the EE1st principle. The new Energy Efficiency Directive (EU)2023/1791 clarifies that it is an overarching principle for all planning, policies and major investments having an impact on energy consumption.
More specifically about heating and cooling, Article 25(3) of the EED highlights that the comprehensive assessments on heating and cooling shall align with the Energy Efficiency First principle, and more specifically when stating that “the cost-benefit analysis shall be capable of facilitating the identification of the most resource- and cost-efficient solutions to meeting heating and cooling needs”. Similarly, Article 25(6) of the EED states that the newly required local heating and cooling plans should “be compliant with the energy efficiency first principle”.
The case of integrating EE1st in heating and cooling plans is among the practical cases investigated in the ENEFIRST Plus project. The general approach is to start with the current practices and framework (e.g. the guidelines for comprehensive assessments and related CBA) to identify what could be adapted or complemented to align with the EE1st principle in a way that benefits all stakeholders. EE1st should not be implemented as another layer of red tape, but as a change of mindset to address the challenges of decarbonizing the energy system looking for the options the most beneficial to the society.
| 14.00 | Short introduction about EE1st, ENEFIRST Plus and the objective of the focus group | Jean-Sébastien Broc (IEECP / ENEFIRST Plus) |
| 14.05 | The EU framework for heating and cooling | Margot Pinault (European Commission – DG ENER) |
| 14.15 | Integrating EE1st in heating and cooling plans: what it means, and what support can help | Marco Peretto (IEECP / ENEFIRST Plus) |
| 14.25 | Q&A | |
| 14.30 | Integrating EE1st in comprehensive assessments on heating and cooling: feedback from the Greek pilot case | Christos Tourkolias (CRES / ENEFIRST Plus) |
| 14.50 | Q&A | |
| 14.55 | ADEME’s approach “ENR’Choix” for sustainable local heating plans | Claire Florette (ADEME) |
| 15.05 | Panel: challenges and opportunities to integrate EE1st in heating and cooling plans Panelists: Stane Merse (JSI, Slovenia / CA EED) Margot Pinault (European Commission – DG ENER) Christos Tourkolias (CRES, Greece / ENEFIRST Plus) Claire Florette (ADEME, France) | |
| 15.30 | End of the workshop | |