The European Union is at a historical turning point. The high energy dependency on fossil fuels, exposed by the war in Ukraine, has revealed alarming implications on both energy prices paid by European consumers and the EU’s energy security. Several solutions are currently being deliberated by EU policy-makers, through the REPowerEU plan, to urgently overcome the stalemate.
Despite these efforts, however, some of these solutions, in particular those in the short-term, are not fully aligned with the climate neutrality trajectory. The proposed solutions should not abandon the objectives of the EU Green Deal. The energy transition will only be cost-effective, efficient and resilient if the EU bases its energy system on clean electricity and relies on the active contribution of all energy end-use sectors, including buildings.
Here, the European building stock can provide a significant contribution but must be refurbished – hence the need for a rapid implementation of the Renovation Wave strategy. Buildings in the EU currently account for 40% of the European energy demand, although their consumption is 75% inefficient and is responsible for 36% of CO2 emissions.
It is therefore crucial to improve their energy optimisation and stimulate their integration in the local energy system, whether it be through flexible consumption of clean electricity produced on-site and/or from the grid they are connected to. In this way, the development of zero-emission buildings would bring benefits to both occupants and the energy system.
