Page 24 - European Energy Innovation - Winter 2016 publication
P. 24
24 Winter 2016 European Energy Innovation
BUILDING EFFICIENCY
Increasing the energy
performance of buildings –
The enabling role of Research &
Innovation in Advanced Materials
By Fabrice Stassin
Energy is a priority for Europe for buildings require that costs • Manufacturing of devices
and President Juncker wants keep decreasing. The cost of these and components used in LCE
an Energy Union delivering technologies depending namely on technologies is moving to
secure, affordable and the advanced materials (non-ferrous growing markets leading to
sustainable energy. metals, steel, alloys, glass, ceramics, new industrial champions and
plastics, composites), innovation is European dependency on imported
While it is expected by International needed to increase performance, technologies (1st wind turbine
Energy Agency (IEA) that power, reduce cost and extend lifetime of & photovoltaic cell suppliers are
industry and transport sectors advanced materials used in building Chinese)
contribute the most to CO2 reductions, components.
buildings have a role to play through • Europe is losing leadership in R&D
energy performance. Improving energy Low carbon energy (LCE) technologies investment and innovation eco-
performance of buildings in Europe is (energy performance in buildings, systems develop outside Europe
crucial since they account for 40% of energy capture & storage, (China and Europe spend each $2.8
final energy demand and are key to decarbonization) are developing fast billion but spending in Europe fell
reaching EU energy efficiency target of and represent an important opportunity 8% compared to 2014 (government
20% by 2020 and 27% by 2030. for Europe-based industry of advanced spending down 18%) while it rose
materials. EMIRI (the Energy Materials 4% in China)
The adoption and deployment of Industrial Research Initiative) estimates
energy performance technologies our Europe-based industry today at These trends strongly impact job
30 billion euro yearly revenues, over creation in Europe in LCE technologies.
500.000 direct & indirect jobs and close Losing ground, Europe becomes a LCE
to 3 billion euro of yearly investment technology importer, and represents
in R&D and capital expenditures. Every less than 15% of jobs in the sector
additional billion euro of revenues (1.17 million jobs in Europe according
generates about 4.000 direct jobs. to International Renewable Energy
Association (IRENA)) while China
Global trends are however impacting accounts for 44% of total.
the Europe-based industry of advanced
materials for LCE technologies: EMIRI estimates though that up to 50%
of jobs preserved in Europe in LCE
• Developing countries invest more technologies are related to advanced
than developed countries in the materials. Our industry is strongly
deployment of LCE technologies anchored in Europe and serving global
and appear as the key markets markets but to maintain leadership,
(China is global leader investing develop manufacturing presence
2.5 times more than Europe in and innovation power in Europe, we
renewable energy with an installed recommend that EU and Member
capacity at 26% of world total) States:
www.europeanenergyinnovation.eu
