UNLEASH THE POTENTIAL OF THE WATER-ENERGY NEXUS IN THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY DIRECTIVE

UNLEASH THE POTENTIAL OF THE WATER-ENERGY NEXUS IN THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY DIRECTIVE

As a follow-up to the MEP Water Group on the Energy Efficiency directive and several actions held since May 2021, the European Alliance to Save Energy and Water Europe are releasing a joint declaration to unleash the potential for the water-energy nexus in the energy efficiency directive with 11 recommendations. The nexus holds the potential to generate large-scale energy and water savings across sectors and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and it is time for policy-makers to accelerate the European efforts towards a clean energy transition and a Water-Smart Society.

The recommendations are:
Secure that the energy efficiency first (EE1) principle applies across sectors and all water cycles and that the quality of water used is fit for purpose.
Create an enabling framework that ensures the delivery of all the benefits deriving from water efficiency.
Promote water reuse to generate energy savings in water management.
Facilitate interoperability and easy integration to the energy grid of energy generated by wastewater treatment plants.
Introduce a mandatory system of assessment for both energy and water usage in industry, water supply systems, wastewater network and treatment plants.
Provide meaningful incentives to ensure that water suppliers reduce water leakage levels, particularly for large and very large water suppliers.
Mandate the introduction of green infrastructure and adapt grey infrastructures in cities to reduce the amount of storm water being directly released into wastewater treatment plants. 
Provide  incentives for the use of digital technologies and real-time data analytics across water cycles.
Foster transparency and free-flow of data across EU on water quality and availability, water leakages, system capacity and energy use for water and waste water infrastructure and performance.
Develop communication standards for data sharing across the water cycle and between national and regional entities.
Introduce requirements and incentives in the EED for the ICT sector to monitor their energy and water consumption.

See full directive attached

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Taxonomy

• Energy
• Water-Energy Nexus
• Energy-Water Nexus