Transport

ALTERNATIVE FUELS INFRASTRUCTURE

Regulation (EU) 2023/1804 on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure is published in the OJEU and comes into force on 12 October 2023. We looked at the draft form of the Regulation in a briefing here: EV Charging Infrastructure: Legal aspects in Ireland as the 60km interval gets closer - Arthur Cox LLP.

Also published in the OJEU, coming into force on 12 October 2023, is Regulation (EU) 2023/1805 on the use of renewable and low-carbon fuels in maritime transport.

In Ireland, the Department of Transport is consulting until 10 November 2023 on the National En-Rute Charging Network Plan.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY DIRECTIVE

As indicated in the Construction and Energy sections, the new Directive (EU) 2023/1791 on Energy Efficiency comes into effect on 10 October 2023 and, except where otherwise stated in the Directive, is to be transposed in domestic law by 11 October 2025. Further information is available here.

The Directive embeds in a number of obligations the “energy efficiency first” principle, as defined in Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 on Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action. A new obligation under Article 3(1) will require Member States to ensure that energy efficiency solutions, including demand-side resources and system flexibilities, are assessed in planning, policy and major investment decisions of a value of more than €100 million each or €175 million for transport infrastructure projects, relating to the following sectors: (a) energy systems, and (b) non-energy sectors, where those sectors have an impact on energy consumption and energy efficiency such as buildings, transport, water, information and communications technology (ICT), agriculture and financial sectors.

TRANS-EUROPEAN TRANSPORT NETWORK

Ireland is to receive a letter for failure to communicate completed transposition as regards the TEN-T Regulation streamlining measures for advancing the trans-European transport network.

The Commission is calling for proposals until 30 January 2024 under the Connecting Europe Facility for Transport. Over €7 billion is available for projects to improve infrastructure along the TEN-T network.