The European Partnership for Energy and the Environment (EPEE), representing key players in the refrigeration, air-conditioning, and heat pump industry in Europe, has endorsed the report by Mario Draghi, "
The Future of European Competitiveness". The report, released last week, advocates for a comprehensive EU plan that blends decarbonization efforts with competitiveness.
“Our members operate more than 100 factories and research & development centres across 22 European countries, employing hundreds of thousands of people,” stated Russell Patten, EPEE’s director general. “We are fully invested in a competitive and energy-independent European Union. Without stronger demand and concrete up-take support measures, EU competitiveness is at risk.”
EPEE supports policies aimed at EU decarbonization, such as REPowerEU, the Energy Efficiency Directive, and the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. Heat pumps, in particular, are seen as a crucial technology to reduce Europe's reliance on foreign oil, as heating and cooling account for half of the energy consumed in the region.
“Our sector stands ready to boost European competitiveness and decarbonise buildings and industries,” said Patten. “The swift publication of the Heat Pump Action Plan, delayed during the last mandate, is the remaining piece of the puzzle that will fully enable our technologies to achieve the Green Deal objectives.”
