EPEE calls for RACHP recognition
28th February 2024
BELGIUM: The European Partnership for Energy and the Environment (EPEE) has called for recognition of the critical role of RACHP technologies in energy efficiency and climate mitigation.
The call for recognition is one of seven policy demands in EPEE’s new manifesto shared with DG ENER, the department responsible for the EU Commission’s policies on energy.
EPEE’s manifesto for 2024 seeks to provide legislators with key policy priorities to support the energy transition while growing the more than 200,000 jobs the RACHP sector directly supports.
It calls on the EU institutions and member states to recognise the “immense role” the RACHP industry plays in “driving energy efficiency, reducing the use of fossil fuels, and supporting climate mitigation in pursuit of the 90% greenhouse gas reduction goal”.
It also maintains that energy efficiency and energy savings must be at the centre of EU policy and calls for the Commission to press ahead with the Heat Pump Action Plan and supporting member states in incentivising the decarbonisation of heating.
EPEE insists that the EU’s decision-making process should ensure and increase transparency during all the steps of its process, “for example on PFAS and their safe use in products, or by sharing impact assessments in a timely manner”.
It also calls on the Commission to address the challenges of “overlapping” policies — citing the F-gas regulation, Ecodesign, and potentially PFAS restrictions under ECHA — “in order to ensure certainty for industry innovation and investments”.
“Our members are fully committed to achieving EU carbon neutrality by 2050 and represent the industries that will deliver on decarbonizing buildings and cold chains through innovative heating, cooling, and refrigeration solutions,” said EPEE director general Russell Patten.
“EPEE is committed to supporting the EU through its energy transition and looks forward to working closely with policymakers to ensure we achieve our shared ambition,” he added.
The manifesto can be read and downloaded here.
