ELECTRIC.IE • The Magazine & Website for the Irish Electrical Industry • 55 Industry News LightingEurope Calls for Practical, Harmonised Implementation of Green Claims Directive LightingEurope has released a new position paper addressing the ongoing negotiations on the EU Green Claims Directive, reinforcing its support for the legislation’s environmental goals while urging a pragmatic and industry-conscious approach to its implementation. Targeted at EU co-legislators currently engaged in trilogue discussions, the paper outlines LightingEurope’s vision for a directive that is not only effective but also workable in practice. Key among the association’s recommendations are the need for regulatory harmonization across Member States and the use of simplified procedures—particularly in cases involving products with hazardous substances. “The Green Claims Directive must not become a roadblock to European innovation and competitiveness,” said Teresa Selvaggio, Director of Public Affairs at LightingEurope. “Where appropriate, the simplified procedure should be applied to ease unnecessary financial and administrative strain on manufacturers.” Simon Wessels, Policy Officer at LightingEurope, echoed the call for consistency: “Ensuring harmonized sustainability information across the single market is essential. Allowing a patchwork of labels and scores only undermines the goal of delivering clear, comparable information to consumers throughout the EU.” LightingEurope emphasises that with the right balance, the Green Claims Directive can become a powerful tool in advancing sustainability while supporting industry innovation. https://www.lightingeurope.org/images/LE_-_Green_Claims_Directive_-_Position_Trilogues_20250306.pdf Link to Document ESB Powers Ahead with €2.2bn Investment in 2024 ESB Group has published its 2024 annual results, highlighting a strong financial performance that enabled a record €2.2 billion investment in critical energy infrastructure. Despite a 19% drop in profit after tax to €706 million, ESB maintained its financial resilience, proposing a €189 million dividend and contributing €3 billion to the Irish economy through payroll, taxes, dividends, and local procurement. Chief Financial Officer Paul Stapleton emphasised that for every euro of profit earned, ESB reinvested €3 into capital projects, reinforcing its commitment to long-term national development and climate goals. Over €1.4 billion was directed towards electricity networks in Ireland and Northern Ireland, with €0.5 billion allocated to renewable generation and €0.3 billion to energy security and other initiatives. ESB continues to push towards Net Zero, achieving a 46% reduction in carbon intensity from 2005 levels. With 1.8 GW of renewables integrated and over 8.8 GW of capacity connected to its networks, the group also installed 326,000 smart meters, bringing the national total to 1.9 million. Amid a volatile global energy market, ESB prioritised affordability, with Electric Ireland implementing three residential price reductions over 16 months. Looking ahead, ESB plans to invest up to €13 billion over five years, doubling network investment and accelerating renewable integration to ensure reliable, sustainable energy for the future. A Net Zero Pathway review by Moody’s awarded ESB an NZ-3 rating, indicating its targets align with global climate goals under the Paris Agreement.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy Mzk5MjA=