EP adopts new energy efficiency targets

The European Parliament wants 32 percent of the bloc's gross final energy consumption to come from renewable sources by 2030, and energy efficiency to improve by 32.5 percent in the same time frame.

According to the European Parliament's website, the regulations aim to reduce the average European's energy bills by making energy more efficient.

"For the first time, member states will also be obliged to establish specific energy efficiency measures to the benefit of those affected by energy poverty," the European Parliament's website added.

Andrzej Grzyb, a Member of European Parliament from the Polish People's Party, called the new targets "exorbitant", but "achievable."

Karol Karski, an MEP from Poland's ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party, said the new targets might prove favourable to energy companies.

"Renewable energy sources are not efficient enough. Even the most efficient wind farm in the middle of the sea provides energy only 40 percent of the time, and then we need to compensate the rest with Russian gas," Karski said.

Last month Polish President Andrzej Duda said that while Poland heavily relies on coal “as the key engine and guarantor” of its energy security, it has begun importing large quantities of liquefied natural gas via a terminal in its northwestern city of Świnoujście, and it is also building a gas pipeline — called the Baltic Pipe — to bring gas from Norway.

Poland and the United States in September pledged to step up cooperation on energy projects as part of a joint declaration on strategic partnership.

In October, both countries finalised an unprecedented long-term deal for the purchase of liquefied natural gas from the US amid efforts to make Poland independent of Russian supplies.

Poland aims to stop importing natural gas from Russia after 2022, according to Polish officials. (tf/vb)

Source: IAR