EU regions sign declaration on energy efficiency and renewables

The EU Committee of the Regions, the European Federation of Regional Energy and Environment Agencies and the Assembly of European Regions signed a declaration on energy efficiency and renewable energies. The declaration includes separate commitments made by individual regions in the EU. Most of the commitments concern quantitative targets. The aim of the declaration is to increase the visibility of the commitment and of the actions conducted by the European regions in the field of energy efficiency and renewable energy sources, and to motivate the regions that have not defined quantitative objectives to take immediate action.

FP7 finances research into hydrogen and fuel cells

The European Commission has announced that it will finance research into hydrogen and fuels cells under the 7th framework Programme (FP7). FP7 is the main subsidy programme for research and technological development within the EU and it runs from 2007 to 2013. FP7 has a total budget of € 50.5 billion for this period. An amount of € 2.3 billion will be spent on energy. The European Commission has announced that the first FP7 calls will open on 22 December 2006.

EU Parliament adopts Euro 5 standard to cut car emissions

The European Parliament adopted new legislation that sets emission limits for new motor vehicles sold on the EU market. The Euro 5 standards revise the current standards, which have been applied since January 2005. The Euro 5 standards will apply from 1 September 2009 for private cars. The new legislation includes limits also for ozone precursors such as nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons as well as particles emitted by diesel engines. Furthermore, the Euro 5 requires access to information on car repairs.

IEA report reviews developments in energy policy

The International Energy Agency (IEA) analysed the latest developments in energy policy of its 26 member countries and other key non-member countries such as China, India and Russia. This year, the IEA’s annual review on energy polices for the first time contains a separate chapter on energy efficiency.

The review is published in the report ‘Energy Policies of IEA countries – 2006 Review’. It focuses on the recent trends witnessed over the last year: high energy prices, continued demand growth, rising import-dependence and political tensions, which led to governments emphasising on energy security in energy policies.

Solar thermal platform promotes solar heating in buildings

More than 100 experts attended the kick-off meeting of the European Solar Thermal Technology Platform (ESTTP). They are convinced that 49 percent of EU heating and cooling demand can be covered by solar thermal heat by 2030. The platform’s goal is to define a vision for the comprehensive use of solar thermal energy in Europe in 2030 and to develop a corresponding research strategy for the upcoming years. Earlier, in a preliminary draft for the solar thermal vision 2030, the ESTTP set the goal of firmly establishing solar thermal energy as the standard technology for heating buildings. In 2030 the majority of new building will be heated by solar thermal energy, according to the experts in the platform. Great potential is also seen in solar cooling, for refrigeration systems and the industrial use of solar energy.

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Ireland: growth in emissions higher than energy growth

Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) has published two reports showing that for the first time since 2001, the 2005 growth in CO2 emissions (3.2%) in Ireland was higher than the growth in energy use (3%). The reports, Energy in Ireland 1990-2005 and Security of Supply in Ireland 2006, show a few other key findings: in 2005 renewable energy grew by 26%, wind power even increased by 70%. In 2005 Ireland however imported 90% of its energy requirements. Oil, all of which is imported, currently accounts for 57% of energy use, while consumption of oil increased by 2.8% in 2005. Transport energy growth in 2005 was 8.2%, almost 3% points above economic growth and transport continues to be the largest end use sector accounting for 41% of the final use of energy.

Find the reports here