EC Calls on ICT Sector to Boost Energy Efficiency by 20% by 2015
October 12, 2009 // Published as a news service by IHS
The European Commission (EC) called on Europe's information and communication technologies (ICT) industries to outline by 2011 the practical steps they will take to become 20% more energy efficient by 2015.
ICT equipment and services alone account for about 8% of electrical power used in the European Union (EU) and about 2% of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
But the EC believes that using ICT in a smart way could help reduce the EU's energy consumption in such energy-hungry sectors as buildings, transport and logistics, and save 15% in total carbon emissions by 2020.In a communication it adopted on Oct. 9, the EC recommended that the ICT industries adopt bold energy efficiency targets by 2011 and lead the transition to a low-carbon economy. It also asked EU countries to agree on common specifications for smart metering by the end of 2010.
The EC called on ICT sector to agree on common methodologies for measuring energy consumption and carbon emissions by 2010. As a result, more reliable data should be available to set ambitious sector targets for energy efficiency and emission cuts by 2011. These sector targets should aim at overtaking the EU's 2020 targets by 2015.
Addressing both EU member states and the ICT sector, the EC recommended moves to unlock Europe's energy efficiency potential through more public-private partnership initiatives, like the ones recently launched by the EC on energy-efficient buildings and "green cars" (see IP/09/1116), as well as through partnerships between ICT industries and defined strategic sectors. In particular, the buildings, transport and logistics sectors were identified as key economic sectors where energy efficiency through the use of ICT is still largely untapped.
The EC also asked EU countries to use ICT-based solutions to improve energy efficiency. Smart grids and smart metering systems can improve production efficiency and control, as well as the distribution and consumption of energy. EU member states have until the end of 2010 to agree on a common specification for smart metering to provide consumers with better information and help them manage their energy consumption.
With smart metering in their homes, for example, consumers could reduce their energy consumption by as much as 10%. A timeframe for the roll-out of smart metering in European households should be agreed upon by the end of 2012, at the latest.
The EC's Oct. 9 communication gave other examples of the ecological potential of ICT: if Europe were to replace only 20% of all business trips by videoconferencing, this could save more than 22 million tons of CO2 per year. Also, the roll-out of broadband networks facilitating an increased use of online public services and applications could save at least 1-2% of total energy use worldwide by 2020.
The EC's recommendation urged public administrations of EU member states at the national, regional and local levels to make better use of ICT tools for energy simulation and modeling, including in the training of professionals in the building, transport and logistics sectors. Such professionals can also boost the take-up of more energy-efficient technology by making it a part of public procurement programs.
"Making better use of innovative ICT solutions will help us meet Europe's objectives of a low-carbon economy. The ICT sector can show the way to a more sustainable, environmental-friendly growth and give a boost to green jobs in Europe," said Viviane Reding, EC commissioner for information society and media.
"We must seize the chance to lead the way in energy-efficient technologies - not only because it is the best way to achieve sustainable cuts in CO2 emissions, but because the ecological potential of these technologies can open up new business opportunities for European ICT companies."
The EC recommendations resulted from a public survey completed in September 2009 that confirmed the need for a coordinated approach by the ICT sector to improve its energy and environmental performance and the importance of common commitments to meet the targets set.
Background
On Jan. 10, 2007, the EC adopted an energy and climate change package, endorsed by the European Parliament and EU leaders at the March 2007 European Council, targeting a 20% reduction both in total primary energy consumption and in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to 1990 levels by 2020, while increasing the share of renewable energy use to 20% by 2020 (see IP/07/29).
On May 13, 2008, the EC announced that it would promote the role of ICT in meeting these goals by improving energy efficiency throughout the economy (see IP/08/733).
In December 2008, the EU reiterated its commitment to meeting these targets and stressed the urgency of improving energy efficiency (see IP/08/1998).
In March 2009, the EC adopted a communication on mobilizing ICTs to facilitate the transition to an energy-efficient, low-carbon economy, highlighting ICT as one of the main enablers that will help reduce the carbon emissions across the board (see IP/09/393).
Reding stressed the important "green" potential of ICT, saying, "I firmly believe that digital Europe cannot afford to turn a blind eye to its ecological potential, which in turn can open up new business opportunities for European ICT companies."
For more information, see the EC's web page on Smarter Use of Energy.
Table 1. GHG Emissions in CO2 Equivalents
(Excluding Carbon Sinks) Compared with Kyoto Protocol Targets for 2008-2012
| Member State |
1990
(million tons) |
Kyoto Protocol Base Year 1
(million tons) |
2007
(million tons) |
Change 2006-2007
(million tons) |
Change 2006-2007
(%) |
Change 1990-2007
(%) |
Change Base Year - 2007
(%) |
Targets 2008-12 under Kyoto Protocol and "EU burden sharing"
(%) |
| Austria |
79.0 |
79.0 |
88.0 |
-3.6 |
-3.9% |
11.3% |
11.3% |
-13.0% |
| Belgium |
143.2 |
145.7 |
131.3 |
-5.3 |
-3.9% |
-8.3% |
-9.9% |
-7.5% |
| Denmark |
69.1 |
69.3 |
66.6 |
-4.4 |
-6.2% |
-3.5% |
-3.9% |
-21.0% |
| Finland |
70.9 |
71.0 |
78.3 |
-1.6 |
-2.0% |
10.6% |
10.3% |
0.0% |
| France |
562.6 |
563.9 |
531.1 |
-10.6 |
-2.0% |
-5.6% |
-5.8% |
0.0% |
| Germany |
1,215.2 |
1,232.4 |
956.1 |
-23.9 |
-2.4% |
-21.3% |
-22.4% |
-21.0% |
| Greece |
105.6 |
107.0 |
131.9 |
3.8 |
2.9% |
24.9% |
23.2% |
25.0% |
| Ireland |
55.4 |
55.6 |
69.2 |
-0.5 |
-0.7% |
25.0% |
24.5% |
13.0% |
| Italy |
516.3 |
516.9 |
552.8 |
-10.2 |
-1.8% |
7.1% |
6.9% |
-6.5% |
| Luxembourg |
13.1 |
13.2 |
12.9 |
-0.39 |
-2.9% |
-1.6% |
-1.9% |
-28.0% |
| Netherlands |
212.0 |
213.0 |
207.5 |
-1.0 |
-0.5% |
-2.1% |
-2.6% |
-6.0% |
| Portugal |
59.3 |
60.1 |
81.8 |
-2.9 |
-3.4% |
38.1% |
36.1% |
27.0% |
| Spain |
288.1 |
289.8 |
442.3 |
9.3 |
2.1% |
53.5% |
52.6% |
15.0% |
| Sweden |
71.9 |
72.2 |
65.4 |
-1.5 |
-2.2% |
-9.1% |
-9.3% |
4.0% |
| United Kingdom |
771.1 |
776.3 |
636.7 |
-11.2 |
-1.7% |
-17.4% |
-18.0% |
-12.5% |
| EU-15 |
4,232.9 |
4,265.5 |
4,052.0 |
-64.0 |
-1.6% |
-4.3% |
-5.0% |
-8.0% |
| Bulgaria |
117.7 |
132.6 |
75.5 |
4.2 |
5.9% |
-35.8% |
-43.0% |
-8.0% |
| Cyprus |
5.5 |
5.5 |
10.1 |
0.2 |
1.6% |
85.3% |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
| Czech Republic |
194.7 |
194.2 |
150.8 |
1.7 |
1.2% |
-22.5% |
-22.4% |
-8.0% |
| Estonia |
41.9 |
42.6 |
22.0 |
2.8 |
14.8% |
-47.5% |
-48.3% |
-8.0% |
| Hungary |
99.2 |
115.4 |
75.9 |
-2.9 |
-3.7% |
-23.5% |
-34.2% |
-6.0% |
| Latvia |
26.7 |
25.9 |
12.1 |
0.4 |
3.5% |
-54.7% |
-53.4% |
-8.0% |
| Lithuania |
49.1 |
49.4 |
24.7 |
1.9 |
8.1% |
-49.6% |
-49.9% |
-8.0% |
| Malta |
2.0 |
2.0 |
3.0 |
0.07 |
2.3% |
45.7% |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
| Poland |
459.5 |
563.4 |
398.9 |
-0.4 |
-0.1% |
-13.2% |
-29.2% |
-6.0% |
| Romania |
243.0 |
278.2 |
152.3 |
-1.6 |
-1.0% |
-37.3% |
-45.3% |
-8.0% |
| Slovakia |
73.3 |
72.1 |
47.0 |
-2.0 |
-4.1% |
-35.9% |
-34.8% |
-8.0% |
| Slovenia |
18.6 |
20.4 |
20.7 |
0.2 |
0.7% |
11.6% |
1.8% |
-8.0% |
| EU-27 |
5,564.0 |
5,759.8 |
5,045.1 |
-59.4 |
-1.2% |
-9.3% |
-12.5% |
Not applicable |
| Source: European Environment Agency |
Table 2. Voluntary ICT Sector Commitments to Targets and Deadlines
for CO2 and GHG Emissions, and Energy Efficiency/Consumption
|
Company |
Target Reduction (%) |
Baseline* |
Target Date |
Comments |
| Alcatel-Lucent |
10 |
2007 |
2010 |
CO2 emissions of facilities |
| Advanced Micro Devices Inc |
33 |
2006 |
2012 |
GHG emissions per manufacturing index |
| Bell Canada |
15 |
Not given |
2012 |
GHG emissions |
| British Telecommunications Plc |
80 |
1996 |
2020 |
CO2 emissions per unit of contribution to GDP |
| Cisco Systems |
25 |
2007 |
2012 |
GHG emissions |
| Dell |
Additional 15 |
Not given |
2012 |
Operational carbon intensity |
| Deutsche Telekom AG |
20 |
2006 |
2020 |
CO2emissions |
| Ericsson |
15-20 |
2006 |
2008 |
Energy efficiency |
| France Telecom |
20 |
2006 |
2020 |
CO2emissions |
| Hewlett-Packard |
16-40 |
2005 |
2010-2011 |
Energy consumption and GHG emissions for operations and products |
| IBM |
7 |
2005 |
2012 |
GHG emissions |
| Intel |
20
30 |
2007
2004 |
2012
2010 |
Carbon footprint
GHG emissions per production unit |
| Motorola |
6 |
2000 |
2010 |
CO2 emissions |
| Nokia |
6 |
2006 |
2012 |
Energy consumption of offices and sites |
| Nokia Siemens Networks |
20-49 |
2007 |
2009-2010 |
Energy consumption of products |
| Sun Microsystems |
20 |
2007 |
2015 |
GHG emissions |
| Telecom Italia |
30% increase |
2007 |
2008 |
Eco-efficiency indicator |
| Vodafone Plc |
50 |
2006/2007 |
2020 |
CO2 emissions |
| EU (all sectors) |
20
20 |
1990
Projected energy use in 2020 |
2020
2020 |
CO2 emissions
Energy savings/efficiency |
| *The baseline is the year in relation to which the reduction/improvement target is set.
Source: SMART 2020: Enabling the low carbon economy in the information age (company commitments), Appendix 4, p.75. |
Source: European Commission (EC).