The European Commission published REPowerEU in March 2022, one week after the International Energy Agency published a 10-point plan to reduce reliance on Russian fossil fuels, following the invasion of Ukraine in February 20221. The account of that sequence comes from the Heat Pump Centre, which reports that the Commission "followed the advice from IEA"1.
At a joint IEA and European Commission workshop on 22 February 2023, held to review progress under REPowerEU, IEA executive director Fatih Birol gave figures for the first year. Russia's oil and gas revenue had fallen by 38 per cent, the share of Russian gas in EU gas demand had fallen by 40 per cent, renewable energy from solar and wind had risen by 41 per cent, and EU heat pump sales had increased by almost 40 per cent. Emissions went down by 2,5 per cent during 20221.
"We are off the hook for this winter, but some governments show overconfidence for next winter"
Birol set out reasons why the following winter could be harder. Around 30 billion cubic metres of Russian gas was still flowing to the EU and could be lost at any time; liquefied natural gas supply to the market was among the lowest on record; and China was returning as a large buyer. He also said the severity of the winter, and the availability of French nuclear power, were unknown1.
A Commission representative told the workshop that the Energy Efficiency Directive would place a 3 per cent per year renovation obligation on public sector buildings, and that the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive would focus on Minimum Efficiency Performance Standards and the worst performing buildings. Guidance was being prepared on making buildings heat pump ready1.
The Commission also said it planned to bring forward a heat pump action plan to boost deployment, linked to the green financing plan and developed with member states and business. It would sit within the Green Deal Industrial Plan presented on 1 February 2023, which includes a proposed Net-Zero Industry Act covering wind power, solar PV, heat pumps, batteries and electrolysers1.
| Measure | Change reported |
|---|---|
| Russia oil and gas revenue | down 38% |
| Russian gas share of EU gas demand | down 40% |
| Solar and wind energy | up 41% |
| EU heat pump sales | up almost 40% |
| Emissions, 2022 | down 2,5% |
Why it matters for households
REPowerEU and the measures described at the workshop reach homes mainly through buildings rules. The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive focus on the worst performing buildings and on minimum efficiency standards is the part most likely to affect owners and tenants of older, poorly insulated housing, and the guidance on making buildings heat pump ready bears on what a home needs before a heat pump can be fitted1. The 3 per cent annual renovation obligation applies to public sector buildings, not private homes1. The heat pump action plan had not been published at the time of the workshop, and no detail of what it would require of households had been reported1. The figures on heat pump sales and renewable generation describe EU-wide totals, not UK ones, and no UK equivalent figures appear in the account1. Households with a complaint about an energy supplier or a redress scheme can find the UK routes set out in the site's guide to energy complaints and redress, and the wider framework of rules and obligations is covered in the regulation and policy hub.
What happens next
The heat pump action plan was to be elaborated by the Commission with member states and business actors, as part of the Green Deal Industrial Plan presented on 1 February 20231. The Net-Zero Industry Act was to be proposed within that plan1. No dates for publication of the heat pump action plan or the act are given1.
Sources1 cited
- European Heat Pump Action Plan - HPT - Heat Pumping Technologies, heatpumpingtechnologies.org