Case green, that’s why the EU risks ending up like Cuba
Who was there and what was said about green houses at the event "The decarbonisation of domestic consumption: multi-energy technologies for a sustainable future" with Proxigas and other trade associations
The European directive on green houses risks slowing down the decarbonisation process. The real estate sector is a complex ecosystem, betting everything on electricity would damage companies, consumers and the environment. This is the point of view of the trade associations Proxigas , Assogasliquidi-Federchimica, Ance, Angaisa, Applia Italia, Assotermica and Federcostruzioni, expressed during the event "The decarbonization of domestic consumption: multienergy technologies for a sustainable future" which was held today in the Chamber of Parliamentary Groups in Rome.
ARRIGONI (GSE): "CUBA EFFECT" RISK ON GAS BOILERS
The directive on green houses could have a "Cuba effect" on gas boilers, according to Paolo Arrigoni, president of the GSE. The rule risks prompting many consumers to repair obsolete gas boilers instead of replacing them, according to Arrigoni.
“I don't agree with the directive on green houses because it would mean that, after the ban on combustion cars, there is also that of gas boilers , thus even plants fueled by biogas and biomethane are thrown into the sea. I stress the fact that this proposal does not impose an obligation to change them,” said Arrigoni.
WHO SAYS NO TO TOTAL ELECTRIFICATION
A concern also shared by Alberto Montanini, President of Assotermica, who shifted the emphasis on the risks of betting everything on electricity: the use of inefficient space heaters (electric and gas stoves), discomfort and the lack of heating for the poorer classes, who are more in need of help. In addition, there is the development on the market of second-hand appliances that pose a safety hazard
“The multi-technology approach is much more sustainable than total electrification. By switching to cogeneration we do not see any improvement in energy efficiency, the systems consume the same amount of energy. ”, said Alberto Montanini, President of Assotermica.
Focusing on electricity cannot be the only way to decarbonise consumption in the real estate sector, otherwise we risk taking important steps backwards along this path, according to the president of the GSE, Paolo Arrigoni.
“Electrification can be a solution for decarbonisation if it is produced from renewables, today it covers a minimal percentage, perhaps between now and 2030 the ratios will reverse. Based on current consumption, I believe that the environmental benefits would be greatly reduced because we must also consider the lyfe-cycle assessment", said the president of the GSE, expressing doubts on the fact that replacing a gas boiler with a heat pump can bring clear advantages ”, said Arrigoni.
“The approach made up of technological bans, which do not take into account other vectors such as green hydrogen and biomethane, is wrong. The final consumption of energy in our country was 120 million tons of oil equivalent, the RES occupy just under 20%. If we were to switch to the electrification of gas boilers within a few years, we would have to increase the current total electricity consumption by 60%, with problems of development of the distribution networks”, added Arrigoni.
WILL THE CASE GREEN DIRECTIVE SLOW DECARBONIZATION?
“One thing is certain: this electrification process is not compatible with the times we have to meet. We need more ideas that must combine waste reduction, enhancing the circular economy and generating energy. It means greater value to biogas, biomethane, biomass which must play a more important role than the one to which we have relegated them up to now”, underlined Luca Squeri, member of the X Productive Activities Commission of the Chamber of Deputies.
A position shared by Marta Bucci, general manager of Proxigas, who emphasized the fact that today most of the electricity is produced from fossil fuels.
“Electricity is only produced for 30% by the Fer, the additional demand could be met today only using fossil fuels. However, it is important that alongside the electrical component, equivalent value is given to all the other solutions that use different technologies and vectors that can contribute to the decarbonisation process. We hope that we can promote a new approach in Europe centered on technological neutrality, which defends an inclusive approach of all those technologies that can make a positive contribution to decarbonisation”, underlined Bucci.
TECHNOLOGICAL NEUTRALITY FOR THE REAL ESTATE SECTOR
The point that all the speakers agreed on is that technological neutrality and flexibility are the two watchwords for the decarbonisation of the real estate sector.
“We need a less ideological and timely approach, we need to value all the sources and technologies, which must be supported if they are able to make a contribution to decarbonisation”, said Paolo Arrigoni.
“Instead of moving towards a principle of exclusivity, we need to aim for one of complementarity. Because the first does not play into the hands of Italy, Europe or businesses. We must follow the second principle as we have always done because the single solution does not play into the hands of either Italy or businesses. The directive on heating systems appears to be a wrong measure, which does not make it possible to achieve the decarbonisation objectives. The business world must make itself heard”, said Tommaso Foti, deputy of the VII Environment Commission.
“Policies need to be rethought, we need to build on the experience of recent years, following principles of synergy between molecules, gas, green gas and electricity. This can be our strength, the approach that can give us more possibilities to build a truly feasible path”, said Marta Bucci.
A successful decarbonization process cannot ignore the analysis of the living contexts and energy mixes present in each Member State, according to Ilaria Bertini, Director of the Energy Efficiency Unit Department of Enea.
“There is no single solution to decarbonise consumption. We have five climatic zones that differ greatly from each other, there are technologies that work better in some situations, less so in others. Our distinctive heritage is very diverse, which is a positive feature. We must be proud of it but also take it into account. Those who live in Northern Europe have very simplified constructions compared to ours. Furthermore, there is a fragmentation of properties, which has defended us in crisis situations. We don't have large groups, characteristics that must be taken into consideration to achieve the objectives,” said Bertini.
Marta Bucci also emphasized the importance of considering the particularities of the real estate assets of each country and leaving more room for individual states to find the best way to reduce polluting emissions.
"The last point is the flexibility to be left to the member countries, which are characterized by completely different contexts from an infrastructural, energy and architectural point of view", said Bucci.
THE ROLE OF THE CITIZEN
The citizen represents a main element in the decarbonisation of the residential sector. In fact, we are talking about a tortuous path that needs the involvement of all the parties involved, including the final consumer.
“If we don't give the consumer the opportunity to participate in decarbonisation, we weaken the entire process”, concluded Bucci.
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/energia/case-green-proxigas/ on Thu, 08 Jun 2023 04:58:33 +0000.