2026-01-16
National Audit Office: energy saving measures are insufficient – consumption is growing faster than planned savings
The National Audit Office assessed the achievement of energy efficiency targets and whether the energy saving measures applied in Lithuania will allow savings of at least 39.3 TWh of final energy by 2030. It also assessed whether annual primary energy consumption would exceed 63.3 TWh and final energy consumption would exceed 51 TWh. These requirements are set out in the 2023 updated Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on energy efficiency, which aims to reduce the EU's dependence on fossil fuel imports by increasing energy efficiency.
The results of the “Overview of the achievement of energy efficiency targets“ show that the energy efficiency measures set out in the National Energy and Climate Action Plan and their implementation progress will only enable Lithuania to achieve one of its three energy efficiency targets by 2030. The estimated final energy savings would be no less than 39.3 TWh. However, the measures envisaged are insufficient to achieve the other two energy efficiency targets for reducing primary and final energy consumption.
The energy savings calculated for the first four years already account for more than half (55.6%) of the 39.3 TWh of final energy that needs to be saved by 2030, but actual energy consumption in Lithuania is not decreasing. In 2024, 7.31 TWh more primary energy and 2.37 TWh more final energy were consumed than in 2022. The increase in energy consumption shows that the energy efficiency measures being implemented are not offsetting the growing energy demand as the economy grows, posing a risk to the adequacy of these measures and the achievement of the Energy Efficiency Directive's targets.
Today, we see a paradox: we calculate and declare energy savings, but overall energy consumption in the country is growing. This shows that theoretical calculations alone are not enough. In order to actually reduce energy consumption, it is necessary to strengthen the planning of energy efficiency measures and the monitoring of their impact.
"In order to identify the main reasons for the increase in energy consumption, it is necessary not only to perform calculations of energy savings, which are done theoretically, but also to thoroughly assess the real impact of the measures applied on actual energy consumption, taking into account economic growth and increasing energy demand," emphasized Auditor General Irena Segalovičienė.
The overview notes that the modernisation of public buildings is one of the most important areas for energy savings in the country. In order to save 346 GWh of energy, the state has allocated almost EUR 100 million for the period 2021-2024. With this in mind, the National Audit Office plans to conduct an audit this year on "Increasing the energy efficiency of public buildings," which will analyse the problems associated with the modernisation of public buildings, their causes and possible solutions.