Page 20 - European Energy Innovation - Winter 2016 publication

20 Winter 2016 European Energy Innovation

ENERGY SECURITY

Safeguarding energy security
in South-East Europe with investment in
demand-side infrastructure

By Cosmina Marian, Buildings Performance Institute Europe (BPIE)

Arecent analysis of could, within 20 years, address all Supply Regulation aims to ensure
the building stock’s gas-using buildings in the region deliveries of gas to protected
vulnerability to gas-supply and reduce the building stock gas customers (i.e. residential buildings),
disruptions concludes consumption by as much as 8.2 bcm/a, its rate of success in a real crisis is yet
that Central and South East European or 70% of the current consumption. to be determined. Doubts were cast on
(SEE) countries are confronted with a
strategic choice. Indeed, in the case of This solution can prove to be very
disruption, Slovakia and Hungary face effective as the building stock in SEE
a severe risk, Bulgaria a substantial countries consumes 38% of the gas
one, to be unable to heat their national imports.
building stocks.
Unlike supply-side solutions (like
A newly developed Building stock investing in gas infrastructure), which
Vulnerability Indicator (BVI) assesses make the region more dependent
the susceptibility of the building sector on imported gas in the long term,
to gas-supply interruptions. The BVI demand-side solutions (such as the
takes into account the importance of electrification of the district heating
gas use in the building sector, along network with heat pumps, or the
with the dependence on imported energy efficiency in buildings achieved
gas and its routes. Based on this through deep renovations) also bring
assessment, seven countries in the SEE a raft of other benefits – creating
region are facing significant risk. employment, boosting economic
growth, cutting fuel poverty and
An “efficiency first” approach presents improving the region’s often very poor
itself as a good solution to counter the air quality.
heavy focus put on gas infrastructure.
A dedicated renovation programme While the current Security of Gas

BVI results and corresponding map: Considering this vulnerability, SEE States need
to mitigate the pressure by considering viable alternatives.

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