Tag: energy efficiency

Speaking at a 9 May stakeholder conference on cogeneration, Green MEP Claude Turmes called on the EU to make co-generation a cornerstone of its future energy policy and efforts to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. 

In this article for think-tank Institut für Europäische Politik (IEP), German Economics and TechnologyMinister Michael Glos highlights the key elements of the German EU Presidency's energy policy.

Five MEPs launched a new coalition on 6 March 2007 to inform and influence EU and national policymakers on energy efficiency. They were joined by representatives of several EU- industry associations.

Since 2005, some 10,000 large industrial plants in the EU have been required to buy and sell permits to release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. A so-called 'emissions trading scheme' enables companies that exceed individual CO2 emissions targets to buy allowances from 'greener' ones to help reach the EU's targets under the Kyoto Protocol. However, pollution credits were grossly overallocated by several countries during the initial implementation phase, forcing down carbon prices and undermining the scheme's credibility, which has prompted the EU to consider toughening up the system.

Commission President José Manuel Barroso will meet US President George W. Bush on a visit to Washington on 8 January 2007. The role of the 'quartet' (the EU, the US, the UN and Russia) in the Middle East, as well as the revival of the Doha Trade Round, will be among the topics discussed.

By 2020, the EU should reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 30% and produce 25% of its primary energy through renewables, according to a report adopted by the European Parliament on 14 December.

Europeans should change their light bulbs, switch off TV's and computers, drive 'green' cars and insulate their houses to reach the Commission's ambitious target of 20% energy savings by 2020.

With a contribution of 80 million euro over four years, the Commission wants to start a new global risk-capital fund which should mobilise private and public investments in both renewables and energy efficiency in developing countries.

After several delays which led to concern from the Finnish presidency, the Commission seems ready to present its action plan on energy efficiency in the third week of October.

The Commission's postponement of the adoption of the action plan on energy efficiency has raised questions about its commitment to one of the main priorities of the new European energy policy.

EurActiv has seen a draft of an ambitious energy-efficiency plan to be unveiled by the Commission that includes a binding target to slash fuel consumption in cars.

A group of top regulators and industry executives operates at EU level to advise the Commission on policy initiatives related to energy, competitiveness and the environment. The need for massive new energy infrastructure investments and shortcomings in EU gas and electricity markets feature among the topics being dealt with by the group. The EU emissions trading scheme is also being reviewed to make sure it does not put European industries at a disadvantage to international competitors.

Leaders of the world's top industrialised nations have expressed their support for open and transparent energy markets at a week-end summit overshadowed by Middle East violence and rising oil prices.

A new generation of nuclear power plants, promoting the use of renewable energy and a stronger energy saving policy are the main elements of the Labour government's energy review presented on 11 July.

Huge and coordinated international investments in new technologies will be needed if the world wants to reverse the unsustainable energy trends, according to a new publication by the International Energy Agency.

Commissioner Piebalgs and European energy ministers have committed to fully exploiting existing EU legislation on energy efficiency in buildings. According to insulation manufacturers, €270 billion euro a year can be saved.

If existing legislation was fully implemented in the member states, the EU would already be half way to meeting its 20% energy-saving target by 2020, the Parliament says.

Nuclear power, renewable energies and energy efficiency policies are "back on the agenda with a vengeance," the British Prime Minister said, sparking a controversy around the choice of nuclear as part of the country's long term energy mix.

Christophe Leclercq and Kristina Weich Hondrila from EurActiv write in this Politik & Kommunikation article (in German) about the state of affairs of a European energy policy after the EU spring summit and future developments.

A new report of the European Environment Agency confirms that growth in the transport sector continues to put pressure on the environment and gives rise to significant health risks.

The EU's Eco-design Directive seeks to make the design of energy-using products such as hairdryers, computers, fridges or office equipment more environmentally friendly. In future, energy performance requirements can also be imposed on products which have an indirect impact on energy consumption during use, such as window frames and water taps.

EU finance ministers have agreed to add district heating to the list of sectors eligible for a reduced 5.5% VAT rate.

As prices of heating fuel hit a high, new research shows better housing insulation could save the EU's newest members billions and shelter them from a looming environmental and social crisis.

Worried about the negative effects of high energy prices on Europe's economy, Energy Commissioner Piebalgs presented a five-point action plan to counter rising oil prices.