Page 36 - European Energy Innovation - Summer 2017 publication

36 Summer 2017 European Energy Innovation

INNOVATION CHALLENGE

The innovation challenge:
will the EU be able to scale up
the rate of energy renovation to
meet its climate commitments?

By Roberta D’Angiolella, Buildings Performance Institute Europe (BPIE)

In November 2016, the 194 technologies and digitalization. Despite this progress, the construction
signatories of the Paris Agreement New construction methods, energy industry could still do more in terms of
pledged to limit global warming monitoring and optimisation tools as innovation, which has the potential to
to below 2°C, challenging the well as other technologies such as boost extensive building improvement
European economy to accelerate its batteries, Photovoltaics (PV) or smart work, substantially increasing energy
energy transition. With the appropriate charging for Electric Vehicles (EV) are efficiency and reducing energy
support and introducing innovations in multiplying. consumption by 75% or more.
the construction value chain, buildings
could indeed play a leading role in
transforming the EU energy system,
increasing the speed with which the
three biggest CO2 polluters – the
buildings, transport and power sectors
– are reducing their climate impact.

INNOVATION IN THE
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
The European construction industry
and its economy are undergoing
a rapid and fundamental change,
shaped by megatrends such as
greater urbanisation, disruptive new

Figure 1: Charging stations for Electric Figure 2: Many systems and applications allowing to manage energy at home.
Vehicles gaining ground in many cities. Source: Danfoss
Source Flickr-Retinafunk

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