EN    EN EN 
 
EN    EN  COMMISSION OF THE E UROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 12.3.2009 
SEC(2009) 270 
  
COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT 
 
Accompanying document to the  
COMMUNICATION FROM THE CO MMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN 
PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL 
COMMITTEE AND THE COMMI TTEE OF THE REGIONS 
 
on Mobilising Information and Communication T echnologies to facilitate the transition 
to an energy efficient, low carbon economy  
  
SUMMARY OF THE IMPACT ASSESSMENT
 
  
{COM(2009) 111 final} 
{SEC(2009) 268} {SEC(2009) 269}
 
EN 2   EN SUMMARY  OF THE  IMPACT  ASSESSMENT 
Following the Commission’s adoption of a first Communication on ICT for energy 
efficiency1, an extensive period of p ublic consultation, study and expert input has clarified 
how ICTs can contribute to en ergy efficiency and more br oadly in moving the European 
economy and society at large onto a more energy efficient footing. In attempting to quantify 
this potential, strong evidence emerged that  it was the very issue of quantification, 
measurability and accountability across virtually all economic and civic sectors that posed one of the greatest problems in te rms of realising energy efficiency  gains and, conversely, one of 
the greatest opportunities for the ICT sector to contribute to meeting the EU’s energy 
efficiency goals. The consultation has also indi cated the readiness of some stakeholder groups 
to take initiatives within a policy framework at EU-level. Various bu siness-led and city-
regional partnership initiatives alread y exist and could be reinforced.  
Problem definition 
The key problem identified in the Impact As sessment is that – while many ICT tools and 
technologies are already availabl e and can be made commercially  viable – they are not used 
on a mass scale and the potential of ICT for im proving energy efficiency cannot be therefore 
fully realised. Several obstacles/barriers to faster deployment of ICT tools and ICT-based 
innovations are identified in the ICT sector itself, in the major energy using sectors and in the 
economy at large (businesses, households, public  administrations at all levels): lack of 
awareness and visibility of information, absence of commonly agreed measurement, 
quantification and management methodologies and tools, particularly for complex systems, 
investment problem, interoperability and st andardisation issues, slow innovation adoption, 
absence of cross-sectoral partnerships a nd limited use of green public procurement.  
The Commission has put in place both regulatory  and non-regulatory measures in the area of 
energy efficiency and continues to strengthen  those measures. Nevertheless, the reviewed 
Energy Efficiency Action Plan
2 states that most Member Stat es are so far not on the right 
track to achieve the 20% energy efficiency ta rget and acceleration of efforts is needed. A 
specific initiative on ICT for energy efficien cy can play a complementary, enabling and 
reinforcing role in the effort to m eet the 2020 energy efficiency target.  
Subsidiarity 
The challenges are cross cutting, trans-border  and indeed global. Pr oblems persist in all 
Member States. Even in the Member States th at have made the most progress and individual 
efforts in support of the energy efficiency goa ls, the market is visibly not remedying the 
obstacles identified fast enough. Under these conditions, common efforts at the European 
level are necessary and can f acilitate the emergence of the framework conditions for 
economies to integrate energy efficient solutio ns in production processes and business and 
consumer consumption patterns. European co -ordination could offer synergies between 
actions at Member State and regional levels. It is acknowledged that in ternational institutions 
have a role to play in providing independent platforms for exchange for stakeholders and 
                                                 
1 COM(2008) 241, 13.5.2008: Addressing the challenge of energy efficiency through Information and 
Communication Technologies. 
2 COM(2008) 742 Communication Energy Ef ficiency: delivering the 20% target. 
 
EN 3   EN assuming the crucial leadership role. In the current context there have been explicit calls from 
industry for EU leadership. 
Objectives 
The main objective is to leverage ICT in order to contribute to the EU goals in the area of 
energy and climate change through wider and faster take-up of IC T-based innovations both 
within the ICT sector itself, in other major en ergy-using activities and through taking the first 
steps (measurement and awareness) in enabling a structural shift to an energy-efficient, low-
carbon information society. 
Broad Policy Options 
The four broad policy options  have been considered:  
– Option 1: no further EU action 
– Option 2: Stronger collaboration and pa rtnership within existing frameworks 
highlighted in a second Communication 
– Option 3: Commission Reco mmendation on mobilising ICT to facilitate the 
transition to an energy-efficient, low-carbon economy, accompanied by a 
Communication  
– Option 4: Regulatory or legislative measures 
Option 4 was discarded in an early stage of the assessment. A regulatory approach would 
inevitably impose a greater cost and admini strative burden, notably  on SMEs, and could 
unhelpfully constrain developments in a highly  innovative field. Furthermore, it would not be 
appropriate to impose strict re gulatory measures on the ICT sect or at this stage given that 
other sectors have so far not been subject to targeted regulatory intervention to reduce their 
energy consumption. 
The assessment of Option 1 conc luded that the current initiatives – whether in the form of 
existing policy instruments or voluntary initia tives by different actors – will improve energy 
efficiency but do not sufficiently address the key problems outlined in the impact assessment and present a risk that their implementation on the ground will be rather slow and piecemeal 
with respect to the global 2020 ener gy efficiency target of 20%.  
Option 2 focuses on strengthening research under  the Framework Programme and the CIP and 
building on the opportunities for pre-commercial public procur ement within the i2010 policy 
framework.  
Option 3 would go beyond the co-ordination po ssibilities of existing policy, research and 
innovation frameworks and formulate actions into recommendations to a wider range of 
stakeholders including to the IC T sector, Member States, regional and local authorities and 
cities. The Recommendation would be acco mpanied by supporting measures which the 
Commission can put in place in order to facilitate its implementation.  
Policy options 2 and 3 were assessed against pr e-defined criteria and in comparison to Option 
1. The assessment showed that the approach addressing a wider range of stakeholders, 
building new partnerships and focusing more on deployment and demand side rather than on 
 
EN 4   EN research and the existing frameworks at the EU level can bring more benefits and achieve the 
objectives faster. Option 3 was therefor e selected as a preferred option.  
Analysis of sub-options under the Commission Recommendation  
The preferred policy approach was analysed in more depth in terms of the concrete 
recommendations that could be  envisaged. Recommendations  with a differing level of 
ambition were proposed and assessed. Some meas ures were discarded on the grounds of their 
high cost, difficult implementation or high risk of non-compliance. The preferred sub-options 
for a Commission Recommendati on address the ICT sector, th e key energy-using sectors 
(logistics, buildings and constr uction and energy end-use) and local and regional authorities. 
Their focus is on catalysing change through ne w partnerships, adoption and use of common 
methodologies and tools for monitoring, meas urement, control and reporting of energy 
consumption. ICT sector is asked to take leadership and agree on highly ambitious energy efficiency targets.  
Evaluation and monitoring 
The preferred option does carry a risk of non-realisation irrespective of how committed 
certain sectors, cities and businesses appear  to be. In order to assess the progress in 
implementation and the need for further or stro nger measures in the future, monitoring will 
start immediately and a comprehensive evaluation will be carried out in 2012.