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The ‘Energy Efficiency First’ (EE1st) principle is defined and endorsed in EU legislation. Article 2(18) of the Regulation (EU) 2018/1999) on the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action provides that:
“ ‘energy efficiency first’ means taking utmost account in energy planning, and in policy and investment decisions, of alternative cost-efficient energy efficiency measures to make energy demand and energy supply more efficient, in particular by means of cost-effective end-use energy savings, demand response initiatives and more efficient conversion, transmission and distribution of energy, whilst still achieving the objectives of those decisions.”
The purpose of EE1st is to give priority to demand-side resources, such as energy efficiency and demand -response, when they are more cost effective from a societal perspective than supply-side energy resources in energy planning, investment, and policy.
The ENEFIRST Plus project (a follow-up of the Enefirst project) supports key stakeholders to complement the existing resources for investment in energy infrastructure, energy planning, and designing incentives. Through this project, new practical guidelines and “real-life examples” will be provided on implementing the EE1st principle. In addition, ENEFIRST Plus pursues to test the resources for 8 “real-life” cases in 4 countries (Croatia, Greece, Italy and Poland) and extend the outcomes to 27 Member States. Building capacity and stakeholders’ engagement through learning cycles are one of the core components of ENEFIRST Plus which results in a community of practice. Furthermore, an online platform will collect the most relevant information and resources about EE1st.
Enefirst Plus objectives:
The purpose of the Energy Efficiency First (EE1st) is to give priority to demand-side resources, such as energy efficiency and demand-response, when they are more cost effective from a societal perspective than supply-side energy resources in energy planning, investment, and policy.
The European Commission’s Recommendation (EU) 2021/1749 on Energy Efficiency First: from principles to practice — Guidelines and examples for its implementation in decision-making in the energy sector and beyond.
The European Commission has recently published implementation guidelines for Member States to facilitate the transposition of Article 3 of Directive (EU) 2023/1791 to their national law.