While standards for toasters, fridges, and TV sets have so far grabbed the most attention, the biggest potential for power savings actually lies in integrating industries and small businesses to the electricity system, a senior EU official has said.
A European Commission plan to overhaul the EU electricity market, presented on 30 November, promises to open a new era for energy savings by making the market more responsive to consumer demand, using digital technologies.
“Consumers and communities will be empowered to actively participate in the electricity market and generate their own electricity, consume it or sell it back to the market,” the Commission said in a briefing note accompanying its Winter Package of energy laws – part of EU plans for an Energy Union presented last month.
Demand-side management
The bulk of power savings in the future are expected to come from demand-side management, said Marie Donnelly, director for renewables and energy efficiency at the European Commission.
Source: EurActiv.com, 13 December: Europe eyes ‘big bang’ in power savings from industry, SMEs