Changes

'''''Optimising energy efficiency is one of the top priorities of the EU’s Energy policy. The Union is currently facing issues with energy wastage, dependency on foreign imports and has set goals for lowering energy consumption of the 2007 levels by 20% (of that in 2007) by the year 2020. Increasing energy efficiency from the very first step of production down to the commercial consumer is a matter which can yield multi-faceted benefits: it can reduce the amount of environmental degradation which results from energy production, decrease electricity costs and energy dependency from countries outside the Union, as well as make the EU energy market more competitive. Thus, with the development of new, environmentally friendly technologies, it is of the utmost importance to underline key steps towards the ideal Energy Union - from production to consumption.The benefits of this change are multiple: energy security for all citizens - even in the case of emergency -, financial savings, as well as less environmental degradation'''''

Energy efficiency is of the utmost importance in the EU , seeing as environmental degradation is a serious threat to the future of the planet. The inefficient production and consumption of energy is propagating, and worsening the effects of, global warming, polluting the air and lowering the quality of life in cities. In light of [[Article 194 of the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union]], the EU continuously aims to provide:

Fortunately, with energy production moving towards more sustainable sources, consumption in EU households seems to also be decreasing, albeit rather slowly. This reduction in consumption by households is rather important, since it accounts for as much as 24.8% of the Union's total. Energy consumption in households in the EU , thus fell by 1.3%, as explained by Eurostat<ref>http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Consumption_of_energy</ref>. Sadly, this decrease is not equally distributed amongst MS, with a majority actually experiencing an increase in their electricity consumption (although mostly by less than 10%). Energy conservation efforts (such as , including the installation of energy conservation equipment) , may play a part in this overall decrease; although it is speculated that it is mostly linked to demographic changes. It is, however, tantamount to ensure that energy consumption is further reduced in households, where possible, utilising environmentally friendly technologies.

Energy in the EU is produced through a multitude of sources, chiefly combustible fuels and [[Nuclear power plant|nuclear power plants]], making up for 47,6 and 27,4 per cent of energy production in the Union, in 2014, respectively<ref>http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Electricity_production,_consumption_and_market_overview</ref> . In recent yearsRecently, however, the importance of renewable energy sources has increased, as highlighted by Eurostat reporting a massive increase of solar and wind power production from 0.02% in 2004 to 3.2%<ref>http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Electricity_production,_consumption_and_market_overview</ref> of the net electricity production of the EU by 2014. Surprisingly, renewable energy sources was were the only one resource that experienced such a uniform growth, from 2004 to 2014. Of course, there is a long way to go until our energy production becomes more environmentally friendly, sustainable, and of course, efficiently utilises our natural resources.

An unfortunate drawback of renewable energy sources is the uneven supply and demand of electricity. The demand for electricity fluctuates throughout the day<ref>https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=830</ref>, as well as throughout the year, and with renewable sources being used, so does supply - with solar . Solar panels, for example producing produce energy only during the day, and a in much greater volume during the warmer months). Thus, it is important to balance the grid and match supply to demand, meaning that either renewable power stations must limit their production during times of low demand, or that energy is not consumed and eventually wasted.

In 2014, Eurostat reported that the EU, as a whole emitted 4 419.2 million tonnes of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere , as the a result of energy production from non-renewable sources. Despite this figure being 22.9% lower than the amount released in 1990<ref>http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Greenhouse_gas_emission_statistics</ref> environmental damage caused by the release of such a large amount of CO2 and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, can have devastating effects on the environment, among which, the depletion of the ozone layer, and of course, global warming.

Another way in which energy production can harm the environment is through the improper disposal of radioactive waste: a by-product of nuclear energy production. However, nuclear energy does not only pose a threat to the environment due to its by-products and , their possible mis-handling, and the amount of time they require to decompose but also due to the high risk it bears, should a reactor be left unattended. For this reason, Germany has sworn off using nuclear energy, whilst two reactors in Belgium have been shut down, after the discovery of cracks in the reactors.<ref>http://www.europarl.europa.eu/atyourservice/en/displayFtu.html?ftuId=FTU_5.7.5.html</ref>

HoweverNevertheless, market liberalisation is nevertheless, one of the key goals of the Commission when it comes to the energy market, as it would allow consumers to choose their providers freely, instead of being forced to abide by the standards of a single- or in any case, very few- companies.

In order to be able to match demand to supply in power, and ensure that countries are safeguarded and can guarantee energy supply to their citizens (even in the case of a spontaneous halt in the use of imported fossil fuels), it is tantamount for MS to co-operate with each other and invest . Moreover, further investments in infrastructure which will allow energy to flow freely and efficiently throughout the EU. In this wayThereby, the vision of the Energy Union is could be achieved and the problems regarding the existence of ‘energy islands’ throughout the Union is addressed.

The Baltic region is sets a shining good example of inter-connectivity initiatives, with two Estlink connections linking up Estonia and Finland, ; the Litpol link connecting Lithuania and Poland ; and Nordbalt between Sweden and Lithuania. <ref>https://ec.europa.eu/energy/en/topics/infrastructure/baltic-energy-market-interconnection-plan</ref>. All these initiatives have raised the inter-connectivity of the Baltic countries to the EU energy sector by up to 22%. The Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan (BEMIP) aims to integrate the energy market in the baltic region even further, by establishing a common power exchange within the Baltic region, completely removing tariffs and filling holes in the demand and supply systems of the interconnected countries. Such regional initiatives also exist in Nordic countries, whereby effective energy exchange takes place through the monitoring of possible energy deficiencies and by adjusting production in neighbouring countries to account for it, price . Price areas are thereby determined, in order for fairer pricing of energy to be facilitated, while legal barriers are effectively overcome<ref>http://www.nordicenergy.org/article/interconnected-nordic-power-systems/</ref>.

*PMUsPhrasor Measurement Units, which allow processors to assess grid stability, thus preventing malfunctions

*and batteries, able to store excess energy produced during hours of low demand and re-supply it to the system when demand rises.<ref>https://energy.gov/oe/services/technology-development/smart-grid</ref>

In recent years, the EU has placed increasing importance in on energy efficiency in households. As part of this ambition to cut down energy consumption by households, the EU endorses and provides incentives for the creation of energy efficient household appliances, meeting minimum energy efficiency targets, for example. Ecodesign regulations require that manufacturers ensure that their products consume the lowest amount of energy possible. The regulations, set at a European level, under [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2009:285:0010:0035:en:PDF Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council], ensure that manufacturers of products mentioned in the Directive, such as (but not limited to): air heating and cooling tools, computers, televisions, domestic cooking appliances, etc. abide by the energy efficiency regulations. The Directive Commission monitors the implementation of this Directive, as well as managing any bilateral agreements with manufacturers of other types of goods.

Another way in which the EU encourages energy efficiency in Household products sold within the Union is through the introduction of harmonised energy labels, to . These help consumers determine which products are most energy efficient, and in effectthus also, most cost efficient for them. The scale proposed by the Commission in 2015, goes from A to G, with the most energy-efficient products being labelled A. Indeed, since the introduction of labels in 1995, energy efficient products have attracted more and more customers, effectively urging manufacturers to create increasingly energy efficient products. The result of these labels, combined with the Energy Efficiency Directive is predicted to save around 175 million tonnes of oil, as well as 465 euros per year in each household's energy costs.

To sum up, the energy market in the European Union is a booming sector, which however, is undergoing major changes in recent years and still has a long way to go until it is sufficiently efficient. Corporate interests, although respected, may need to be compromised, in order to achieve market liberalisation (the lack of which is currently holding back the market), while consumers and smaller businesses may also need to change their habits. Indeed, with the EU so majorly emphasising the importance of a well-integrated Energy Union, pushing for a shift to renewable energy sources and calling for energy conservation at every level, it is time to look into the concrete measures that are required in order to reach the ambitious goals set forth in the 2030 Agenda, achieve de-carbonisation by 2050, but most importantly: ensure that energy production in the Union is as effective and as efficient as possible.