for the adoption of concrete national measures for this relationship, which is
expected to be ready in 2018 (European Commission 2015a).
9.5 Expectations and Perspectives: Saving Energy
The EU assesses the state of energy savings through primary and final energy
consumption. The EU energy efficiency targets for 2020 and 2030 are proposing
20% and 25–30% improvement in energy efficiency compared to 2005 (European
Commission 2015a). According to the European Commission, the EU should save
2.7 Mtoe in final consumption per year and 11.9 Mtoe in primary energy consumption compared to 2013 to meet its 2020 energy efficiency improvement target of
1086 Mtoe and 1483 Mtoe (European Commission 2015b). It is noted that the 2020
target for final energy consumption and primary energy consumption was reached
and exceeded by 18 and 19 countries from the 28 EU Member States in 2014 as well
as by the EU as a whole for final consumption of energy. However, the primary
energy consumption of the EU will have to decrease by 1.6% as compared to 2014 to
reach the 2020 target. Moreover, the EU’s final energy consumption decreased by
1.84% between 1990 and 2014 and by 10.96% between 2005 and 2014, while the
target for this indicator set by the EU for 2020 would mean a decrease of 8.88%
compared to 2005 and an increase of 0.45% compared to 1990. At the same time, the
primary energy consumption of the EU decreased by 3.97% between 1990 and 2014
and by 12.01% between 2005 and 2014, while the target for this indicator set by the
EU for 2020 would mean a decrease of 5.51% compared to 1990 and by 13.42%
compared to 2005. In addition, under these circumstances, the EU highlights the
difficulties of meeting the 2020 energy efficiency targets (European Commission
2011).
Romania has assumed less ambitious targets on energy saving, as the target for
final energy consumption for 2020 would mean a decrease of 25.74% compared to
1990, but an increase of 22.67% compared to 2005, which represents the minimum
recorded level for 2 years, whereas the target for primary energy consumption for
2020 would decrease by 24.96% compared to 1990, but an increase of 17.17%
compared to 2005. Thus, Romania should reconsider the targets in the field considering the minimum value of the two indicators, realizing efforts to reduce energy
consumption. Thus, concrete measures need to be implemented and not just adopting
targets based on contextual conditions. In 2014, Romania’s final energy consumption decreased by 46.81% compared to 1990 and by 12.15% compared to 2005,
while primary energy consumption decreased by 46.25% compared to 1990 and by
16.08% compared with 2005, with energy savings being much higher than those
recorded by the EU. In conclusion, Romania’s top position regarding the reduction
of energy consumption is not due to the implementation of intensive energy saving
measures but rather to the economic context generated by the socioeconomic
restructuring after 1990.
9 Creating Sustainable Energy for Future Generations
153
expected to be ready in 2018 (European Commission 2015a).
9.5 Expectations and Perspectives: Saving Energy
The EU assesses the state of energy savings through primary and final energy
consumption. The EU energy efficiency targets for 2020 and 2030 are proposing
20% and 25–30% improvement in energy efficiency compared to 2005 (European
Commission 2015a). According to the European Commission, the EU should save
2.7 Mtoe in final consumption per year and 11.9 Mtoe in primary energy consumption compared to 2013 to meet its 2020 energy efficiency improvement target of
1086 Mtoe and 1483 Mtoe (European Commission 2015b). It is noted that the 2020
target for final energy consumption and primary energy consumption was reached
and exceeded by 18 and 19 countries from the 28 EU Member States in 2014 as well
as by the EU as a whole for final consumption of energy. However, the primary
energy consumption of the EU will have to decrease by 1.6% as compared to 2014 to
reach the 2020 target. Moreover, the EU’s final energy consumption decreased by
1.84% between 1990 and 2014 and by 10.96% between 2005 and 2014, while the
target for this indicator set by the EU for 2020 would mean a decrease of 8.88%
compared to 2005 and an increase of 0.45% compared to 1990. At the same time, the
primary energy consumption of the EU decreased by 3.97% between 1990 and 2014
and by 12.01% between 2005 and 2014, while the target for this indicator set by the
EU for 2020 would mean a decrease of 5.51% compared to 1990 and by 13.42%
compared to 2005. In addition, under these circumstances, the EU highlights the
difficulties of meeting the 2020 energy efficiency targets (European Commission
2011).
Romania has assumed less ambitious targets on energy saving, as the target for
final energy consumption for 2020 would mean a decrease of 25.74% compared to
1990, but an increase of 22.67% compared to 2005, which represents the minimum
recorded level for 2 years, whereas the target for primary energy consumption for
2020 would decrease by 24.96% compared to 1990, but an increase of 17.17%
compared to 2005. Thus, Romania should reconsider the targets in the field considering the minimum value of the two indicators, realizing efforts to reduce energy
consumption. Thus, concrete measures need to be implemented and not just adopting
targets based on contextual conditions. In 2014, Romania’s final energy consumption decreased by 46.81% compared to 1990 and by 12.15% compared to 2005,
while primary energy consumption decreased by 46.25% compared to 1990 and by
16.08% compared with 2005, with energy savings being much higher than those
recorded by the EU. In conclusion, Romania’s top position regarding the reduction
of energy consumption is not due to the implementation of intensive energy saving
measures but rather to the economic context generated by the socioeconomic
restructuring after 1990.
9 Creating Sustainable Energy for Future Generations
153