The European Commission presented the Action Plan, which is designed to increase its efficiency and the integration of renewable energy sources through the digitalization of the energy sector.
The Plan will also help reduce costs for EU consumers and energy companies, reports European Commission.
The message noted that the European green agreement and the REPowerEU plan require a deep transformation of the energy system, which should become more interactive and smart to help consumers take advantage of the ecological transition.
The measures put in place will strengthen data sharing, promote investment in digital electricity infrastructure, provide benefits for consumers and strengthen cyber security.
“As data centers and growing demand for online services demand more resources from our energy system, today's plan also outlines ways to decouple the energy footprint of the information and communications technology (ICT) sector from exponential data growth. Green and digital transitions should go hand in hand," the message reads.
Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson noted that the European Green Deal and preparing Europe for the digital age are top priorities of the Commission and go hand in hand. The action plan will help unlock the potential of digitalization of the energy sector and energy savings.
The message emphasized that in some areas of the energy sector, such as electric vehicles, photovoltaic installations and heat pumps, digital and intelligent technologies already exist and need support for expansion. In other areas of the energy system, digitization is just being introduced.
In the coming years, the European Commission intends to take various measures to strengthen digital energy services, in particular:
- helping consumers gain more control over their energy consumption and bills through new digital tools and services with a strong governance framework for a common European energy data space;
- control of energy consumption in the ICT sector, in particular through an eco-labeling scheme for data centers, energy labeling for computers, measures to increase transparency of energy consumption by telecommunications services and energy efficiency labeling for blockchains;
- strengthening the cyber security of energy networks through new legislation, including a Network Code for the cyber security aspects of cross-border electricity flows in accordance with the EU Electricity Regulation and the Council Recommendation on increasing the resilience of critical infrastructure;
The message noted that the European Commission will continue to provide financial support for scientific research and innovation and promote the use of digital technologies in the energy sector through the Digital Europe Program, LIFE, cohesion funds and the leading energy digitalization program under Horizon Europe. In cooperation with the European Green Digital Coalition, it will also continue to develop tools and methodologies to measure the net environmental and climate impacts of digital technologies in the energy sector.
Earlier, EcoPolitic wrote, that the European Commission presented a list of the main ones indicators for monitoring progress in achieving environmental and climate goals by 2030, as well as the long-term vision by 2050.
As EcoPolitic previously reported, 4 environmental groups filed legal action against the European Commission due to the adoption of a controversial law on the inclusion of fossil gas in the list of sustainable investments of the EU.
