Energy Efficiency

Malta Adopts 2026 Amendments to Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations

In May 2026 Malta adopted amendments to its Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations to align building-sector rules with new EU renewable energy and energy efficiency requirements. The changes tighten obligations on public bodies, building owners and utilities around minimum on-site renewables, metering, renovation strategies and energy savings, raising expectations for future building design, refurbishment and investment decisions.

25 May 2026, 18:24legislation.mtMalta

German Bundestag Legal Affairs Committee Reviews Ecodesign and Energy Labelling Implementation Bill

In May 2026 the German Bundestag's Legal Affairs and Consumer Protection Committee scheduled a meeting and opinion deadline on the federal bill to modernise national implementation of EU ecodesign and energy labelling rules. This signals that Germany's horizontal framework for ecodesign and energy labelling is moving through the parliamentary committee phase, with potential upcoming changes to product efficiency and labelling requirements for manufacturers and retailers once the law is adopted.

25 May 2026, 18:20bundestag.deGermany

Turkey Adopts Life-Cycle and Energy Performance Rules for Large New Buildings

Turkey has amended its building energy performance rules to require life-cycle greenhouse-gas analysis and energy performance certificates for new buildings of 10,000 m² or more from 1 January 2027. Developers and asset owners will need to build BEP-TR life-cycle modelling and upgraded expert certifications into the planning of large projects, and can seek low-carbon building recognition where performance thresholds are met.

25 May 2026, 17:13csb.gov.trTürkiye

German Bundestag Publishes June 2026 Plenary Agenda With Key Climate and Cyber Resilience Bills

In May 2026 the German Bundestag published its 10–12 June plenary agenda, confirming debates and first readings on major climate, energy, cyber resilience and environmental crime legislation. These agenda decisions signal that core elements of Germany’s climate targets, building energy rules, electricity capacity design and digital product security regime are entering the parliamentary decision-making phase, so affected sectors should track outcomes and begin scenario planning for compliance.

25 May 2026, 17:12bundestag.deGermany

China MIIT Issues 2026 Industrial Energy Conservation Inspection Notice (工信厅节函〔2026〕221号)

China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has launched the 2026 industrial energy conservation inspection programme, directing provincial authorities to inspect key energy‑intensive sectors and submit task plans by 29 May 2026 and annual reports by 15 November 2026. This campaign strengthens enforcement of China’s Energy Conservation Law, pushing industrial enterprises to prepare for on‑site checks, phase out inefficient equipment, and invest in energy‑ and carbon‑reduction upgrades aligned with national decarbonisation goals.

25 May 2026, 17:08hunan.gov.cnChina

Blekinge County Adopts Regional Electrification Action Plan

Blekinge County has adopted a regional electrification action plan with 18 measures to secure electricity supply and support the green transition of industry, transport and public services through 2045. This non-binding plan signals how regional authorities will prioritise grid investments, permitting, and flagship projects, shaping future infrastructure decisions and investment conditions across the county.

25 May 2026, 15:38lansstyrelsen.seSweden

EU Council Working Paper: Netherlands Comments on Recast TEN-E Regulation Presidency Compromise Text

On 30 March 2026 the Council circulated a working paper with the Netherlands’ detailed comments on the Presidency’s second compromise text for the recast TEN-E Regulation, which will revise EU rules for cross-border electricity, hydrogen and CO2 infrastructure. The Dutch position pushes for stronger recognition of hydrogen, electrolysers and CO2 networks as projects of overriding public interest, more pragmatic permitting and environmental assessment rules, and tighter Member State involvement in EU-wide grid planning, signalling where the final framework for strategic energy infrastructure may move.

25 May 2026, 15:33data.consilium.europa.euEuropean Union

Ningxia IMT Department Launches 2026 Energy-Efficiency Inspections for Electrolytic Aluminium, Steel, Cement and Ferroalloy Enterprises

In March 2026, the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Industry and Information Technology Department launched targeted 2026 energy-efficiency inspections for 77 electrolytic aluminium, steel, cement and ferroalloy enterprises, with mandatory self-assessments, on-site audits and fixed reporting deadlines. Energy-intensive plants in Ningxia should prepare for detailed reviews of power use, equipment performance and carbon accounting, with findings feeding into tiered electricity pricing decisions, enforcement of efficiency standards, and future decarbonisation investment planning.

25 May 2026, 14:06gxt.nx.gov.cnChina

Germany: Bundestag Adopts Law To Modernise Implementation Of EU Ecodesign And Energy Labelling Rules

In May 2026 the German Bundestag adopted a wide‑ranging act that creates a new Ökodesign-Gesetz, updates the Energy Labelling Act, and strengthens market-surveillance and sanction powers to align national rules with the EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products and Energy Labelling Regulations, with most provisions applying from November 2026. This will raise compliance expectations for manufacturers, importers, retailers and repairers of regulated products in Germany, tightening enforcement around resource efficiency and repair rights while preparing for future digital product passports and helping level competition in favour of efficient, durable products.

24 May 2026, 20:44dserver.bundestag.deGermany

GB Ofgem Sets 2027 Heat Network Registration Deadline and DESNZ Awards New Heat Network Funding

Ofgem has opened a new digital service for heat networks and confirmed that existing operators and suppliers must register their networks under the consumer protection regime by 26 January 2027, while DESNZ is awarding over £40 million to upgrade and expand low-carbon heat networks in England and Wales. Heat network owners, suppliers and large users should plan now to complete Ofgem registration and data systems ahead of the 2027 cut-off and evaluate opportunities to use HNES and GHNF funding to improve network efficiency, decarbonise heat supply and manage long-term operating costs.

23 May 2026, 20:00ofgem.gov.ukUnited Kingdom

EU Commission Updates Climate Tracking And Digital Tagging For Poland's Recovery And Resilience Plan

In May 2026 the European Commission published a staff working document updating how Poland’s modified Recovery and Resilience Plan is tagged against EU climate and digital targets under the Recovery and Resilience Facility framework. The update reallocates and documents climate and digital coefficients across a wide range of funded measures, confirming that climate-tagged spending will be fully financed from EU funds and signalling continued support for green and digital investments without introducing new reporting duties for companies beyond existing RRP implementation rules.

23 May 2026, 19:06ec.europa.euEuropean UnionPoland

Friuli Venezia Giulia Council Approves Environmental Amendments to Draft Law 79

Friuli Venezia Giulia has approved environmental amendments to Draft Law 79 that simplify EcoEventi funding, launch deplastification grants for catering microenterprises, extend the Bando stufe clean heating incentives, and support a regional renewable energy community. These measures strengthen local financial support for waste reduction, domestic air quality and community renewables, signalling that regional authorities expect households, small businesses and municipalities to accelerate investments in cleaner equipment and more sustainable event practices.

23 May 2026, 11:19regione.fvg.itItaly

Netherlands Publishes Q1 2026 Overview of Implemented and Pending EU Directives

The Dutch parliament has published a Q1 2026 overview of EU directive transposition, confirming implementation of the new lead and diisocyanate occupational exposure limit directive and highlighting numerous environment and climate files still pending in the Netherlands. This gives compliance teams clear visibility that Dutch law already reflects the stricter OELs, while signalling that major air, water, waste, energy-efficiency and asbestos measures remain open and should be factored into medium-term regulatory planning.

23 May 2026, 09:16zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlNetherlands

UK Government Announces Funding Packages for Chemicals and Ceramics Industries

In May 2026 the UK Government announced a £350 million Critical Chemicals Resilience Fund and a separate £120 million support scheme for ceramics manufacturers to strengthen critical supply chains, modernise energy‑intensive sites, and back long-term industrial resilience. These packages signal a more interventionist industrial policy for critical chemicals and ceramics, with co-designed decarbonisation and energy-cost support likely to influence where manufacturers invest, consolidate capacity, and seek future trade and regulatory relief in the UK.

23 May 2026, 09:13gov.ukUnited Kingdom

EU Expert Groups’ Joint Recommendations on Data Exchange for Smart Charging and Demand-Side Flexibility

EU expert groups have issued a joint report setting out a common data-exchange framework to enable demand-side flexibility, smart charging, and bidirectional charging for EVs and other flexible assets across the European energy system over the coming years. These non-binding recommendations signal the technical and governance direction for future EU legislation and standards, so companies involved in e-mobility, heat pumps, storage, and grid-edge solutions should treat them as an early roadmap for upcoming regulatory and data-interoperability expectations.

23 May 2026, 09:08transport.ec.europa.euEuropean Union

California AB 2458 on Appliance Energy Standards Referred to Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee

California’s AB 2458, which would extend appliance energy-efficiency standards and certification requirements beyond sales to cover rentals, imports, distribution and leases, has advanced to the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee following Assembly passage in May 2026. If enacted, the bill would broaden compliance obligations for manufacturers, importers, distributors and rental or leasing businesses dealing in energy- and water-intensive appliances used in California, tightening market access expectations around appliance efficiency.

23 May 2026, 08:55leginfo.legislature.ca.govUnited States

New York Senate Bill S10546 Would Require Large Data Centres To Fund Host Community Electrification

New York has introduced Senate Bill S10546, which would require large data centres with at least 20 megawatts of load to fund host-community programmes that either discount residential electricity bills or install household electrification technologies such as heat pumps, rooftop solar and battery storage. If enacted, this would link data centre development approvals to visible local decarbonisation and affordability benefits, increasing compliance and funding obligations for operators while supporting state climate and equity goals.

22 May 2026, 18:57assembly.state.ny.usUnited States

German Bundestag Debates Motions on EPBD Transposition, Fossil Heating Phase-Out and Gas Independence

Opposition parties in the German Bundestag have tabled four energy-policy motions, triggering a May 2026 debate on implementing the EPBD, phasing out fossil heating and advancing gas independence targets. While non-binding, these proposals point to possible future tightening of building-energy rules, long-term gas reduction milestones and stronger tenant protections that energy, construction and housing stakeholders should factor into strategy and investment planning.

22 May 2026, 18:53bundestag.deGermanyEuropean Union

Croatia Presents National Industry Development Plan 2027–2034 and Action Plan

Croatia’s Ministry of Economy has presented a National Industry Development Plan for 2027–2034, backed by an action plan and multi‑billion‑euro funding to drive competitive, clean and energy‑secure industrial growth. This signals a long-term policy and investment framework likely to shape future incentives, infrastructure and regulatory initiatives affecting energy‑intensive and manufacturing sectors operating in Croatia.

22 May 2026, 18:53mingo.gov.hrCroatia

EU Commission Publishes Repository of National Emergency Energy Measures for Consumers and Industry

DG Energy has launched an EU-wide repository summarising national emergency energy measures adopted since February 2026 to shield households and industry from price shocks linked to the Middle East conflict. The overview gives energy-intensive manufacturers and other large users a single view of tax breaks, subsidies and demand-side interventions across Member States, supporting strategic planning for energy costs, resilience and investment.

22 May 2026, 18:51webgate.ec.europa.euEuropean Union