ENERGY : EXAMINING HI-TECH'S CONTRIBUTION TO LOW-CARBON ECONOMY.

The Parliament's committee on industry, research and energy (ITRE) is set, on 23 February, to consider a report by Patrizia Toia (S&D, Italy) on mobilizing information and communication technologies (ICT) to facilitate the transition to an energy-efficient and low-carbon economy. Rapporteur Toia broadly endorses the Commission's March 2009 communication and October 2009 recommendation. Toia, however, calls for greater emphasis to be placed on the standardization of measuring instruments for the energy efficiency gained thanks to ICT. She also wants more binding measures(1).

According to Toia, many of the obstacles to the rapid roll-out of ICT tools and innovation may be attributed to the lack of common measurement methods and tools. The rapporteur thus wants a speedy adoption of necessary binding measures and a clear timetable for compliance in the sector. Toia also favours more pilot projects aimed at ensuring the mass roll-out of ICTs with inter-sector partnerships as well as local and regional authorities being made more aware of the energy efficiency benefits from ICTs. Likewise, Toia notes the benefits ICTs can bring via efficient urban organisation to substantially reduce the energy impact of urban areas. She wants action taken to disseminate good practice and raise local decision-makers' awareness of these benefits.

Another central issue is that of smart metering for both gas and electricity. The Commission's...