Commission calls for focus on renewable energy
25 September 2001 - 25 September 2001
The European Commission's Research Directorate General is hosting a conference on the Integration of renewable energy sources and distributed generation in energy systems in Brussels on 25 and 26 September to discuss the best ways to increase the use of renewable energy.
The benefits from the increased use of renewable energy are not only environmental protection (minimising the greenhouse effect and air pollution), but also increasing the security of energy supply by reducing dependence on oil, gas and coal imports, creating new jobs in the energy sector and increasing industrial competitiveness; all EU policy objectives. To help realise these benefits, the conference aims to review examples of best energy technology practice from across Europe, then evaluate the potential of these technologies, before finally identifying further research opportunities and other implementation mechanisms.
A move to renewable energy implies a change from the current situation where energy supply is dominated by the centralised combustion of fossil fuels to a situation where a huge number of small producers are connected to the grid. The conference will pull together 400 people representing all relevant stakeholders to discuss this transition.
There are very many views about the best path to a future energy framework. This can be seen clearly in the recent discussion on renewable energy between the European Council and the European Parliament. The European Parliament believes that the EU should set mandatory national targets for the proportion of energy produced from renewable sources while the EC believes these targets should only be indicative. The agreed compromise is that targets will initially be indicative, but if Member States fail to make progress against those targets, then the Commission may propose mandatory targets.
One issue that is still unresolved is the EC proposal to include the use of waste incineration as a renewable resource. The EC wants to include it as a renewable energy source, but the European Parliament is strongly opposed to this, not least because burning waste goes against the aims of the 'waste treatment hierarchy' within another EU directive. From the point of view of energy policy, the European Parliament's stance is that more energy is saved by avoiding waste in the first place and recycling waste than burning it. However, pressure for 'instant' waste disposal options might challenge this position. While the EC conference in September cannot map the whole of Europe's route to a sustainable energy future, it should provide some signposts to the way.
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For further information on the conference, please contact:
Mr. Manuel Sanchez Jimenez
Research Directorate-General
Rue de la Loi 200
B-1049 Brussels
Tel: +32.2.299.42.88
Fax: +32.2.299.42.88
E-mail: manuel.sanchez-jimenez@ec.europa.eu
The benefits from the increased use of renewable energy are not only environmental protection (minimising the greenhouse effect and air pollution), but also increasing the security of energy supply by reducing dependence on oil, gas and coal imports, creating new jobs in the energy sector and increasing industrial competitiveness; all EU policy objectives. To help realise these benefits, the conference aims to review examples of best energy technology practice from across Europe, then evaluate the potential of these technologies, before finally identifying further research opportunities and other implementation mechanisms.
A move to renewable energy implies a change from the current situation where energy supply is dominated by the centralised combustion of fossil fuels to a situation where a huge number of small producers are connected to the grid. The conference will pull together 400 people representing all relevant stakeholders to discuss this transition.
There are very many views about the best path to a future energy framework. This can be seen clearly in the recent discussion on renewable energy between the European Council and the European Parliament. The European Parliament believes that the EU should set mandatory national targets for the proportion of energy produced from renewable sources while the EC believes these targets should only be indicative. The agreed compromise is that targets will initially be indicative, but if Member States fail to make progress against those targets, then the Commission may propose mandatory targets.
One issue that is still unresolved is the EC proposal to include the use of waste incineration as a renewable resource. The EC wants to include it as a renewable energy source, but the European Parliament is strongly opposed to this, not least because burning waste goes against the aims of the 'waste treatment hierarchy' within another EU directive. From the point of view of energy policy, the European Parliament's stance is that more energy is saved by avoiding waste in the first place and recycling waste than burning it. However, pressure for 'instant' waste disposal options might challenge this position. While the EC conference in September cannot map the whole of Europe's route to a sustainable energy future, it should provide some signposts to the way.
g SMEs, s
For further information on the conference, please contact:
Mr. Manuel Sanchez Jimenez
Research Directorate-General
Rue de la Loi 200
B-1049 Brussels
Tel: +32.2.299.42.88
Fax: +32.2.299.42.88
E-mail: manuel.sanchez-jimenez@ec.europa.eu