The Secretariat publishes two policy guidelines to address energy demand challenges

In a significant move to address the energy demand challenges facing the Energy Community Contracting Parties, today the Energy Community Secretariat published two policy guidelines with the aim of implementing measures to reduce energy demand and initiate building renovation strategies. The guidelines have been developed in line with the 2022 Ministerial Council conclusions, in collaboration with the expert Energy Efficiency Coordination Group and PHLG, with invaluable support from the Regional Energy Efficiency Programme, co-funded by the European Union.

The Policy Guidelines on Demand Reduction Measures were developed in response to the heightened focus on energy security issues within the Energy Community following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.  These guidelines map priority policies and identify relevant energy demand reduction measures. They also address issues related to retail energy prices, highlight specific challenges and best practices, and summarize key findings to support effective demand reduction measures, with a particular focus on energy efficiency and the attainment of 2030 energy and climate targets in the Energy Community.

The Policy Guidelines for Building Renovation Strategies focus on implementing building renovation strategies, in line with Article 2(a) of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. Recognizing that buildings account for over 40% of total final energy consumption in many Contracting Parties, these guidelines outline a roadmap for cost-effective measures to improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in buildings. Structured into four sections, the guidelines address the fundamental challenges of implementing renovation strategies, key steps for successful delivery, and specific intervention areas.

The Energy Community Secretariat encourages stakeholders, including governments and donors’ community, to actively engage with and implement these guidelines for the collective benefit of the Energy Community.