About half of the EU鈥檚 final energy consumption goes to heating, making it a key focus area in Europe鈥檚 efforts to improve energy security and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing, published today, analyses this energy segment, urging investment in building renovations and modern renewable energy solutions.
Decarbonising heating听谤别辫谤别蝉别苍迟蝉听one of听the听major challenges听for Europe听on the way to meeting听climate targets听for 2030 and 2050 and ensuring听greater听energy security.听The EEA briefing 鈥�鈥� looks at听sectoral trends听and听calls for听stronger听policy efforts听to reduce听energy听needs听and switch to听sustainable heating and cooling听in听all sectors.听Together with听the听recent听,听the听assessment听highlights听key听opportunities and challenges听in the race to听make the听EU听carbon-neutral by 2050.听听
Energy renovation听and听conservation听measures,听including听public听information campaigns,听have proven their听efficiency听in听curbing听overall听heating and cooling needs,听especially听in听buildings听鈥�听the largest energy-consuming听end-use sector听across the EU.听However, the EEA briefing听reminds that听energy efficiency measures alone听are听insufficient to decarbonise heating and cooling听when听fossil fuels are being used as the main听energy听source.听In 2020,听almost听80% of all听household energy听use听regarded听space and water heating,听with听over听half of this energy being supplied听by听burning听fossil fuels, notably听gas. Investments听in renewable and waste energy sources听for heating and cooling听are needed to听reduce gas听consumption,听climate impacts听and听air听pollution.
Local needs and opportunities
Data from听Eurostat show that听renewable energy听accounted for听less than a quarter听of final energy used for heating and cooling in the EU听in 2020.听The听northern EU countries, where听buildings need听more听heating听during听winter months, had already reached听more than 50%听shares听of renewable energy for heating and cooling听in 2020听using听large shares of听biomass.听But as heating and cooling systems last longer than a decade, replacing fossil fuels with biomass听across all countries听may have unwanted implications for this feedstock, climate and the environment.听With听the availability of sustainable energy resources and the demand for heating and cooling varying听significantly across Europe,听there is a need to听prioritise the听most sustainable local energy sources听that correspond to local needs and opportunities, according to the EEA briefing.
The EEA briefing听also听notes听that听renewables听for听heating and cooling听in Europe听mostly still听consist听of听solid biomass, such as wood,听whereas听other renewable options for heating and cooling听are growing at much faster pace, including听modern heat pumps and solar thermal collectors.听Where available,听modern,听renewables-based district heating听systems provide听important听opportunities for further decarbonisation,听by听acting as a platform for听integrating听a variety of听clean energy solutions.
The European Commission has recently听published a roadmap for听听in Europe.听
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