As part of its presidency of the European Energy Network (EnR), Deutsche Energie-Agentur (dena) – the German Energy Agency – has held a round-table discussion in Brussels on the topic of ‘Energy Efficiency in Action’. The discussion was organised in cooperation with the Allianz für Gebäude-Energie-Effizienz (geea), Alliance for Building Energy Efficiency. The central issue here was to investigate the role of energy efficiency and sector linkage in achieving the Energy Union and the European climate targets.
Roughly 60 senior figures in business and politics, as well as Europe’s national energy agencies, attended the high-level event at the German Permanent Representation in Brussels. They included Dr Peter Rösgen (German Embassy), Bernd Biervert and Marie Donelly (European Commission), Ulrich Benterbusch (Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy) , as well as Kristina Haverkamp and Andreas Kuhlmann (dena management).
In his speech, Günther Oettinger, EU Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society, said that the stakeholders in the energy industry and in information and communications technology would have to join forces for the Energy Union to succeed and to guarantee energy efficiency and flexibility in an increasingly data-driven economy.
Andreas Kuhlmann, dena’s Chief Executive and geea spokesperson, emphasised: “The Energy Union, as a European energy transition, can only succeed if all actors work together – politicians and companies, associations and even consumers. “
dena is the initiator behind geea and holds the network presidency in 2016. “As part of our EnR presidency, we intend to initiate practical dialogue as our contribution to a progressive energy union”, said dena’s Managing Director Kristina Haverkamp. “This is why we are cooperating with our network partners to prepare an EnR policy paper indicating the calls for action.”
dena’s involvement within EnR
dena has been involved in the coalition of national energy agencies in Europe for over ten years. Among other things, it heads up the Renewable Energies and Industry working groups. The presidency is supported by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy.
The European Energy Network
The EnR is an alliance of currently 24 national energy agencies from Europe and neighbouring countries. Since 1992, it has supported European stakeholders in implementing EU directives and adds the expertise of its member agencies to the political debate at an EU level. The network focuses on all matters relevant to implementing a sustainable energy policy – from raising energy efficiency and expanding renewable energy sources to developing the energy infrastructure. The corresponding topics and projects are covered in a total of eight working groups. The Romanian energy agency ANRE will assume the presidency in 2017.
To the European Energy Network website
The Allianz für Gebäude-Energie-Effizienz (geea), Alliance for Building Energy Efficiency, is a German cross-sectoral consortium representing the entire value chain within energy-efficient building and refurbishment.