Energy

Energy efficiency

Context of the action

Reducing the consumption of energy in industrial processes and through private use is a prominent aspect of the work that needs to be done to achieve the targets of the Paris Agreement and keep global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial era levels. At the same time, the objectives of energy security, sustainability and competitiveness, together with affordability, must be met.

SPIPA action

During its implementation, SPIPA has contributed to progress towards this goal by focusing on energy efficiency in buildings, household energy policies and renewable energy sources. The approach is fully aligned with the European Green Deal, the strategic cornerstone of the EU’s strategy to achieve a fair, people-centred, healthy, resource-efficient, decarbonised, resilient and viable economy by 2050; and with the European Green Deal’s Fit-for-55 package, which aims to revise the trade bloc’s climate, energy and transport-related legislation, aligning it with the EU’s climate-related goals for 2030 and 2050.

The work SPIPA undertook with the Buildings Performance Institute Europe on energy efficiency in buildings in a broad range of countries is illustrative of SPIPA’s diverse portfolio and highlights the flexibility and adaptability of the Programme.

In Russia^[1], SPIPA contributed to the exchange of knowledge and the fostering of awareness of effective programmes and strategies to promote low-energy use in buildings and the sustainable life cycle of buildings, based on existing research in the EU and Russia. In the United States, SPIPA focused on increasing the energy efficiency of the building stock while strengthening public- and private-sector collaboration on policy development and implementation, improved energy-efficiency technology for buildings and the financing of renovation initiatives.

In Canada, the collaboration presented an excellent opportunity to exchange knowledge and promote capacity building and best practices in support of governance and political agenda setting in a field that has high potential in helping countries achieve their climate targets against the backdrop of a sustainable economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Whereas in Brazil, the main objective of SPIPA was to set up a framework for the fruitful exchange of knowledge and best practice on life cycle assessment as a method that can be used to evaluate the environmental impact of buildings, based on mass and energy flows of materials and processes.

[1] The activities presented in the following text took place ahead of Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine starting on 24 February 2022.

Renewable energy

Context of the action

The theme of renewable energy was developed with specific focus on the potential offered by the offshore wind power. Europe – home to the largest operational wind farms – leads from the perspective of technological solutions, supporting policies conducive to the development of the industry and related supply chains.

SPIPA action

SPIPA’s engagement under this theme has achieved impact thanks to an adaptive approach across a range of countries, and has covered activities mainly in Australia, Japan and South Korea.

In Australia, where the renewable energy sector is in the early stages of development, tailored events allowed knowledge-sharing on relevant industry developments in Europe and the lessons to be drawn from recent regulatory processes.

Meanwhile, the dialogue in Japan took a more technical focus, encompassing areas such as certification, conformity assessment and market access, while addressing the opportunities offered by the country’s fast-maturing floating offshore technology, which is expected to offer major contributions to global decarbonisation efforts.

Intervention in the Republic of Korea pivoted around discussions on the disadvantages of siting distance regulations on solar photovoltaic systems (PV) developments across the country. A SPIPA-issued report revealed that, excluding forest areas, there is no land available to install solar under current local separation distance regulations. In addition to facilitating business roundtables on the topic, SPIPA brought the subject forward with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) which, in turn, started preparing legislation on a standard ordinance to address this issue.

While platforms such as roundtables, seminars and workshops, complemented by high-level events, have offered ample opportunity for advancing the agenda of energy efficiency and renewable energy sources, study and research also played a major role in broadening the global knowledge base on these subjects. The richness of thematic facets addressed, combined with the variety of engagement tools deployed and the response from implementing partners and involved counterparts from the government, academia and the business sector, is testament to the progress made in this area of intervention.