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By eeNews Europe
Schneider Electric is calling on the European Union to accelerate energy efficiency and electrification measures, warning that Europe’s reliance on imported fossil fuels is leaving businesses and households exposed to ongoing energy price shocks.
The company said global energy prices are expected to rise by 24% this year, marking the biggest increase since 2022, while energy costs in Europe remain between two and four times higher than in other major regions. Schneider Electric argues that energy efficiency and electrification should now be treated as economic and energy security priorities rather than purely climate measures.
According to Schneider Electric, Europe still imports nearly 60% of its energy, costing the EU €336.7 billion in 2025. The company says accelerating electrification and energy efficiency could unlock at least €250 billion annually by 2040 by cutting demand and reducing fossil fuel dependence.
Among the measures proposed is wider deployment of connected building controls and building energy management systems. Schneider Electric said optimizing heating, cooling, ventilation, and lighting in real time could reduce overall EU energy consumption by 5-6%.
The company is also calling for stronger support for industrial energy management systems, especially for SMEs, where low-cost efficiency measures could eventually deliver energy savings of up to 30%.
Schneider Electric additionally urged faster implementation of existing EU legislation, including the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) and the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). It pointed specifically to Building Automation and Control Systems (BACS), which it said could save 450 TWh of final energy annually while reducing energy bills by €36 billion.
Electrification is another major focus of the proposals. Schneider Electric said Europe’s electrification rate has stagnated at 21%, leaving the region behind China and still heavily exposed to fossil fuel price swings.
The company wants policymakers to accelerate deployment of heat pumps, targeting one million installations annually by 2030, while also supporting corporate fleet electrification to expand the second-hand electric vehicle market.
It also called for lower taxes on electricity, streamlined public funding for clean energy projects, and greater support for rooftop PV, storage systems and digital energy controls.
Smart grid infrastructure is another priority, with Schneider Electric advocating faster deployment of interoperable smart meters and more digitized electricity networks capable of supporting demand response and peak reduction strategies.
Laurent Bataille, Executive Vice President, Europe Operations at Schneider Electric, said: “Complacency is Europe’s biggest energy risk. Plans to subsidize energy costs are sticking plasters, and inadequate in the long-term. Europe needs a structural change – one that incentivizes adoption of clean tech solutions so businesses and households alter the way they use energy for good.”
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