Consumers will be at the centre of EU efforts to create a more integrated energy system, with local authorities playing an essential role to bring energy users closer to suppliers in a bid to maximise efficiency and cut greenhouse gas emissions, officials say.
Last year, the European Commission presented an “energy system integration strategy,” saying the current energy system built on several parallel, vertical energy value chains needs to be broken down.
Sector integration means linking the various energy carriers – electricity, heat, cold, gas, solid and liquid fuels – with each other and with end-use sectors, such as buildings, transport or industry, the EU executive says.