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Content archived on 2023-03-27

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Programme (EEC) of demonstration projects and industrial pilot projects (EEC) in the energy field, 1985-1989

 
Complementing the non-nuclear energy R&D programme (ENNONUC 3C), this programme was not included in the Community's Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (1987-1991). Launched in 1978, it has been carried out in three phases (1978 -1982, 1983-1985 and 1985-1989).

The industrial pilot and/or demonstration of a project can be defined as the link between the earlier R&D stage and the later investment stage. This stage differs from the R&D stage in that its aim is to demonstrate economic viability on an industrial scale. It differs from the investment stage in that the inherent risks are still too high for entrepreneurs.
With due attention to national programmes, to support the Community's energy strategy by encouraging techniques which favour the rational use of energy (economy of energy and substitution of hydrocarbons) and to develop other forms of energy (renewable sources and the liquefaction and gasification of solid fuels).
Four fields:

- Exploitation of alternative energy sources:
Biomass and energy from waste, wind energy, geothermal energy, hydro-electric power, solar energy;

- Energy saving:
Buildings, industry, energy industry, transport;

- Substitution of hydrocarbons:
Solid fuels; electric power; heat transmission, distribution and storage;

- Liquefaction and gasification of solid fuels:
Gasification, underground gasification, liquefaction.
The Commission decides whether to grant support for projects after consulting the Advisory Committee on the Management of Demonstration Projects and Industrial Pilot Projects.

Projects are submitted each year by persons or undertakings or groups of these within the Community following a call for proposals. They may also be prepared and submitted on behalf of small and medium-sized enterprises by bodies in the Member States involved in the promotion of technological innovation.

Demonstration projects concern the exploitation of any potential alternative sources of energy, with the exception of nuclear energy. These are projects which may lead to substantial energy savings by comparison with already commercially available technology, projects which exploit energy processes replacing hydrocarbon-based processes and projects for converting solid fuels into gases and liquids likely to reduce the Community's dependence on imported hydrocarbons.

Industrial pilot projects for the liquefaction and gasification of solid fuels are installations whose capacity and components are large enough to provide the reliable economic and technical data needed to progress from the R&D stage to the demonstration stage and, in certain cases, directly to the industrial and commercial stages.

All projects must exploit innovative techniques, be based on completed R&D work, offer promising prospects, present difficulties with regard to finance and in principle be carried out within the Community. Account is also taken of whether they are the subject of cooperation between persons or undertakings from at least two Member States or whether they offer particularly appropriate solutions with regard to protection of the environment. The contractor responsible for carrying out a project must undertake to exploit, or facilitate exploitation of, the successfully demonstrated technique, process or product and to permit dissemination of the results.

Financial support may be granted for a project as a whole or for various stages of a project. In exceptional cases, when no feasibility study is available on similar projects, such a study may also receive financial support. The level of support will be determined for each project individually. Community support does not exceed 40% of the eligible cost. Total Community and national support should generally not exceed 49%.

The person or persons responsible for carrying out a project supported by the Community must send to the Commission, at least once a year or at its request, a report on the fulfilment of contractual obligations and, in particular, on the progress of work and the expenditure incurred. The Commission makes a periodic report to the Council and the European Parliament on the Regulation governing these projects.