Promotion of European energy technology at THERMIE exhibition

In the framework of the Community's THERMIE programme, the European Commission, DG XVII, organized a major exhibition of some 100 projects which demonstrated new ways of producing and using energy cleanly and efficiently. The exhibition took place in Berlin on 19-24 September ...

In the framework of the Community's THERMIE programme, the European Commission, DG XVII, organized a major exhibition of some 100 projects which demonstrated new ways of producing and using energy cleanly and efficiently. The exhibition took place in Berlin on 19-24 September 1994.

The current THERMIE programme for the demonstration and dissemination of new, clean and efficient energy technologies expires at the end of this year. Since its inauguration in 1990, THERMIE has had a budget of about ECU 700 million for some 700 demonstration projects and several thousand promotional activities in the areas of energy efficiency, renewable sources of energy, and the clean use of coal and hydrocarbons. The promotional activities are designed to spread information about new energy technologies and to promote their market penetration. They are primarily carried out by a European-wide network of Organizations for the Promotion of Energy Technology (OPET).

The projects displayed at the exhibition were drawn not only from Community supported programmes, but also from national programmes or private investors. They provided a comprehensive overview of recent achievements and the latest developments in energy technology.

In particular, the projects focused on:

- The rational use of energy in transport, public buildings and industry;
- The greater use of renewable energies such as the production of energy from biomass and waste;
- More efficient and cleaner ways of using coal and other solid fuels;
- Better exploitation of oil and gas resources.

Visitors were able to gain first-hand experience of how energy technologies contribute to topical issues such as reduced air pollution, the increased international competitiveness of European industry and the development of regional energy resources.