Internal market in gas Directive 2009/73/EC on common rules for the internal market in natural gas It aims to introduce common rules for the transmission, distribution, supply and storage of natural gas* with the objectives of providing market access and enabling fair and non-discriminatory competition. It concerns natural gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG), biogas and gas from biomass. Rules for the organisation of the sector […]
Natural gas transmission networks Regulation (EC) No 715/2009 on conditions for access to the natural gas transmission networks It lays down rules for access to: natural gas transmission* networks; gas storage; and liquefied natural gas facilities. These rules aim to counteract barriers to competition in the EU’s market for natural gas and to ensure its smooth operation. Key Points The regulation determines: how tariffs (solely […]
Renewable energy Directive (EU) 2018/2001 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources It recasts and repeals previous legislation (Directive 2008/28/EC, Directive (EU) 2015/1513 and Council Directive 2013/18/EU). It establishes a common system to promote energy from renewable sources across the different sectors. In particular, it: sets a binding European Union (EU) target for its share in the energy mix in 2030; […]
Governance of the energy union Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 on the governance of the energy union and climate action It aims to ensure that the European Union’s (EU) energy union strategy is implemented in a coordinated and coherent manner across its five dimensions. More broadly, it also aims to ensure that the EU achieves its objectives, in particular the targets of the 2030 policy framework for […]
Emergency oil stocks Directive 2009/119/EC obliging EU countries to maintain minimum stocks of crude oil and/or petroleum products It aims to secure the European Union (EU) oil supply by requiring governments to keep a minimum level of crude oil and/or petroleum stocks. It sets out procedures for releasing these if there is a serious shortage. Key Points EU countries must: maintain total oil stocks equivalent […]
Energy performance of buildings Directive 2010/31/EU on the energy performance of buildings It aims to improve the energy performance of buildings in the EU, taking into account various climatic and local conditions. It sets out minimum requirements and a common framework for calculating energy performance. Following a review of its implementation, Directive 2010/31/EU was amended in 2018 by Directive (EU) 2018/844. The principal aim was […]
Revised Statutes for the Euratom Supply Agency Decision 2008/114/EC, Euratom establishing Statutes for the Euratom Supply Agency Article 52 of the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) Treaty It establishes Statutes for the Euratom Supply Agency (ESA), which was directly established by the Euratom Treaty of 1957, to take account of the increase in the number of EU countries as well as to modernise the Agency’s […]
Wholesale electricity and gas markets — EU oversight rules Regulation (EU) No 1227/2011 — wholesale energy market integrity and transparency It establishes a framework for monitoring wholesale energy markets*. It aims to prohibit abuses such as insider trading* and market manipulation. Key Points The regulation strengthens the role of the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER). ACER’s tasks include the following. — Monitoring trading […]
Electric and gas-powered vehicles — recharging/refuelling stations Directive 2014/94/EU — deploying the EU’s alternative fuels infrastructure It establishes standard rules on rolling out the EU’s alternative fuels* infrastructure (i.e. electric car recharging stations or natural gas refuelling points) in the different EU countries. It lays down minimum requirements for building up this infrastructure, to be implemented as part of every EU country’s national policy framework. […]
Electricity data — generation, transportation and consumption Regulation (EU) No 543/2013 on the submission and publication of data in electricity markets WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE REGULATION? It aims to improve the transparency of electricity markets. It provides for the publication of electricity generation, transportation and consumption data. Key Points The regulation requires the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (the ENTSO […]
Cross-border exchanges in electricity Regulation (EU) 2019/943 on the internal market for electricity It revises the rules and principles of the internal EU electricity market to ensure it is well-functioning, competitive and undistorted. It also supports the decarbonisation of the EU’s energy sector and the removal of barriers to cross-border trade in electricity. The regulation is part of the Clean Energy for all Europeans package. […]
Connecting Europe Facility Regulation (EU) No 1316/2013 establishing the Connecting Europe Facility It establishes the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) which supports projects of common interest (that is, of interest to the EU as a whole) for infrastructure in the fields of: transport; telecommunications; and energy. Its ultimate aim is to speed up investment in trans-European networks and to leverage funding from the public and private […]
Motor vehicles: use of biofuels The European Union (EU) creates a Community framework to promote the use of biofuels in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the environmental impact of transport, and to increase security of supply. Directive 2003/30/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 May 2003 on the promotion of the use of biofuels or other renewable fuels for […]
Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators The Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators was created with the aim of assisting the authorities regulating energy markets to exercise at Community level the regulatory tasks performed in the Member States and, where necessary, to coordinate their action. Regulation (EC) No 713/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 establishing an […]
Strategic oil stocks The obligation of the Member States to build up and maintain a minimum petroleum reserve gives security of supply of petroleum resources to the European Union (EU). Due to the importance of oil in the EU’s energy mix, the EU’s strong external dependence for supply of petroleum products and the geopolitical uncertainty in many producer regions, it is vital to guarantee consumers […]
Prospection, exploration and production of hydrocarbons A set of common rules is introduced in order to ensure non-discriminatory access to the activities of prospection, exploration and production of hydrocarbons. These objective and transparent rules help to reinforce the integration of the internal energy market, encourage greater competition within it and improve security of supply. Directive 94/22/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of […]
Community framework for the taxation of energy products and electricity The European Union (EU) establishes general arrangements for the taxation of energy products and electricity. The EU system of minimum rates, which for a long time was confined to mineral oils, is extended to coal, natural gas and electricity. This system sets the minimum rates of taxation applicable to energy products when used as motor […]
Convention on Nuclear Safety This Decision regards the Accession of the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) to the Convention on Nuclear Safety, adopted under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency of the United Nations. Commission Decision 1999/819/Euratom of 16 November 1999 concerning the accession to the 1994 Convention on Nuclear Safety by the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom). Context The Convention on Nuclear […]
Hot-water boilers Liquid or gaseous fuel fired hot-water boilers with a rated output of between 4 kW and 400 kW must meet efficiency requirements that are harmonised across the European Union (EU). The “CE” conformity marking on a boiler shows that it complies with minimum standards. Council Directive 92/42/EEC of 21 May 1992 on efficiency requirements for new hot-water boilers fired with liquid or gaseous fuels […]
Cogeneration The energy-saving potential of cogeneration is currently under-utilised in the European Union (EU). The purpose of this Directive is to facilitate the installation and operation of electrical cogeneration plants (a technology allowing the production in one process of heat and electricity) in order to save energy and combat climate change. Directive 2004/8/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 February 2004 […]
Market in Energy The directive on the internal market in electricity establishes common rules for the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity. It sets rules relating to the organization and functioning of the electricity sector, access to the market, criteria and procedures applicable to calls for tenders, and the granting of authorizations for the operation of systems. Electricity businesses must be operated in accordance with […]
Single Energy Market The All-Ireland single electricity market is the wholesale electricity market for the island of Ireland. It is regulated jointly by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities in the Republic of Ireland and the Utilities Regulator in Northern Ireland The single energy market was the first of its kind and commenced on 1 November 2007. Decision-making is undertaken by the SEM committee which […]
Harmonised Market The European Union has made directives with a view to harmonizing the internal markets for natural gas, electricity, and equivalent utilities. The purpose of the legislation is to provide for the opening up of the markets to competition. The Directive on the gas market is designed to complete the opening of the national gas markets to competition. The purpose is to increase competitiveness […]
General Targets An EU Directive seeks to achieve the Union\’s energy efficiency target of 20% by 2020 compared to 1990 levels and to pave the way for further energy efficiency improvements beyond that date. It includes a requirement for all Member States to set indicative national energy efficiency targets for 2020. The Directive promotes energy efficiency across the Union through a common framework of measures. They cover […]
Household Appliances The EU has made legislation in relation to the publication of information on energy consumption by household appliances. This enables consumers to choose appliances based on energy efficiency. The directive applies to household appliances even where sold for non-household uses including Refrigerators, Freezers, Washing machines, dryers, Dishwashers, Ovens, Water heaters and hot water storage appliances, Lighting sources, Air-conditioning appliances. Any such appliances offered […]