‘Energy research in EU needs centralised approach’

While Europe as a whole (European Commission and Member States) invests more public resources into non-nuclear energy research than the US and Japan, its efforts are often uncoordinated and deliver fewer results in return. The European Commission concludes this in the report “The state and prospects of European research”, which maps and compares the publicly funded research efforts carried out by the Commission and Member States in the EU and those undertaken in the US and in Japan.

According to the report, a more coordinated central approach is needed in Europe. The European research scope appears to be very wide and multi faceted. This is mainly caused by the fragmented nature of European research, the wide difference of cultures and national circumstances between Member States, and the institutional nature of the European Union.

“Centralised” systems as used in the US and Japan have an advantage, because these countries can more easily prioritise their programmes and cut activities in areas which do not appear to have a successful future such as geothermal and ocean energy for Japan. “Areas where large investments are necessary (CO2 capture and sequestration) might also benefit from a more coordinated central approach,” the report states.

Portugal wants leading role in EU climate change policy

Portugal wants a leading role in directing European climate change policy during their EU Presidency in the second half of 2007. Portugal’s Prime Minister José Sócrates announced a series of new emission reduction targets and measures.

One of the announced targets is that 45% of electricity consumption has to come from renewable energy sources by 2010. Furthermore, Sócrates promised encouragement for microgeneration, an acceleration of licensing for new wind farms and biomass plants, and current dam-building will be environmentally evaluated.

Sócrates set a target for biofuels of 10% by 2010, which is almost twice the 5.75% target set by the EU. Environmental weighting on vehicle tax will be increased to 60% by 2008. Furthermore, Portugal will make sure that two current? coal-fired plants reduce CO2 emissions by 1 million tonnes through partial conversion to biomass by 2010.

Iberdrola builds first new wind farm in Poland

The construction of Iberdrola’s first wind farm in Poland has begun. Construction of a second wind farm by Iberdrola will begin later this year.

Spanish company Iberdrola will build the two wind farms in Poland. The first wind farm, called Kisielice, has a capacity of 40.5 MW and is located in Warminsko-Mazurskie, in northern Poland. The second wind farm, named Malbork, will have a capacity of 18 MW.

China invests billions in renewable energy

China announced that it will invest € 4.54 billion to more than triple its wind power capacity by 2010. The Chinese government will also spend a further € 149.4 billion in making existing buildings more energy efficient by 2020. China will also strengthen the efficiency standards for new buildings.

The investments in wind power capacity are intended to lead to 8,000 MW installed capacity by 2010. At the moment, installed wind power capacity in China is 2,300 MW. According to a recently published report, China will be the world’s largest wind power producer by 2020, as all signs point towards a massive expansion of renewable energy in the country.

China is planning to increase the use of renewables and reduce its growing dependence on coal and oil. At the moment, China is the world’s second largest consumer of oil and the largest consumer of coal. In response to the growing amount of new coal plants in China, the country has targeted a huge increase in wind power and it will also subsidise solar power, biodiesel, and ethanol projects.