Energy Guides

First call for proposals under the NER300 programme by EUbusiness — last modified 20 December 2012, 23:03 CET

The European Commission on 18 December awarded over EUR 1.2 billion funding to 23 highly innovative renewable energy demonstration projects under the first call for proposals for the so-called NER300 funding programme. Projects will be co-financed with revenues obtained from the sale of 200 million emission allowances from the new entrants' reserve (NER) of the EU Emissions Trading System.

Making the internal energy market work - Communication by EUbusiness — last modified 15 November 2012, 17:04 CET

On 15 November 2012, the European Commission presented a Communication assessing the state of play of the internal energy market, to be completed by 2014. The Communication encourages EU Member States to step up efforts, highlighting the benefits of a truly integrated European market for citizens and business. The document also identifies the need for further action in a number of areas including consumer protection, enforcing the existing rules and investing in the modernisation of energy infrastructure. The Commission says it will work with Member States to empower consumers and to phase out state interventions which distort markets.

Options to reform the European carbon market by EUbusiness — last modified 14 November 2012, 19:05 CET

The European Commission is taking two important steps to address the growing supply-demand imbalance of emission allowances in the EU emissions trading system (EU ETS). As an immediate first step to address the rapid build-up of the surplus of emissions allowances, the Commission made a formal proposal to revise the auction time profile and delay ("back-load") the auctioning of 900 million allowances in the third phase of the EU ETS starting next year. The Commission also on 14 November adopted a report on the state of the European carbon market which sets out a range of possible structural measures that can be taken to tackle the surplus. The surplus of emission allowances has primarily built up because the economic crisis has reduced industrial emissions of greenhouse gases by more than anticipated, leading in turn to lower demand for allowances from businesses. The surplus is expected to continue in the third phase of the system, which will run from 2013 to 2020.

EU anti-subsidy investigation on solar panel imports from China by EUbusiness — last modified 08 November 2012, 13:46 CET

The European Commission has launched an anti-subsidy ("countervailing duty") investigation into imports of solar panels and their key components (i.e. solar cells and solar wafers) originating in China.

Commission proposal to minimise the climate impacts of biofuel production by EUbusiness — last modified 17 October 2012, 16:59 CET

The European Commission has published a proposal to limit global land conversion for biofuel production, and raise the climate benefits of biofuels used in the EU. The use of food-based biofuels to meet the 10% renewable energy target of the Renewable Energy Directive will be limited to 5%. This is to stimulate the development of alternative, so-called second generation biofuels from non-food feedstock, like waste or straw, which emit substantially less greenhouse gases than fossil fuels and do not directly interfere with global food production. For the first time, the estimated global land conversion impacts - Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC) - will be considered when assessing the greenhouse gas performance of biofuels.

EU energy efficiency directive by EUbusiness — last modified 13 September 2012, 16:05 CET

Mandatory energy-saving measures, including renovating public buildings, energy-saving schemes for utilities, and energy audits for all large firms, will be required by an EU energy efficiency directive approved by the European Parliament in plenary on 11 September. It is estimated that cutting energy consumption by 20% could save the EU EUR 50 billion per year.

Temporary free allocation of emission allowances for power plants beyond 2012 - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 24 May 2012, 11:05 CET

The European Commission has adopted a framework under which EU Member states may compensate some electro-intensive users, such as steel and aluminium producers, for part of the higher electricity costs expected to result from a change to the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) as from 2013. The rules ensure that national support measures are designed in a way that preserves the EU objective of decarbonising the European economy and maintains a level playing field among competitors in the internal market. The sectors deemed eligible for compensation include producers of aluminium, copper, fertilisers, steel, paper, cotton, chemicals and some plastics.

Securing the EU's energy interests abroad by EUbusiness — last modified 07 September 2011, 19:49 CET

The European Commission has adopted a Communication on security of energy supply and international cooperation, setting out for the first time a comprehensive strategy for the EU's external relations in energy. Improved coordination among EU Member States in identifying and implementing clear priorities in external energy policy is central to the approach outlined by the Commission. In today's ever-changing global energy markets, the EC says achieving EU energy security calls for adequate coordination at home and a strong and assertive position abroad.

New EC Energy Efficiency Directive - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 22 June 2011, 20:58 CET

The cheapest energy is the one we do not consume. The counting down has started to achieve Europe's 20% energy efficiency target for 2020. If nothing changes in the coming years, the EU will achieve only half of the target. This threatens our competitiveness, our fight to reduce CO2 emissions and our security of supply. This is still a high cost for every consumer's bill. A new set of measures for increased Energy Efficiency is proposed today by the European Commission to fill the gap and put back the EU on track. This proposal for this new directive brings forward measures to step up Member States efforts to use energy more efficiently at all stages of the energy chain – from the transformation of energy and its distribution to its final consumption.

Nuclear stress tests - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 25 May 2011, 22:20 CET

From 1 June 2011 onwards, all 143 nuclear power plants in the EU will be re-assessed using EU wide criteria. These are comprehensive tests as the Commission has called for which embrace both natural and man made hazards (i.e. effects of airplane crashes and terrorist attacks). The European Commission and the European Nuclear Safety Regulators' Group (ENSREG) agreed today on the criteria covered and the way controls will be done.

Nuclear Stress Tests - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 11 May 2011, 16:19 CET

The "stress tests" are a set of additional safety criteria drawn up in the light of the nuclear accident in Fukushima. These EU wide criteria will be in addition to safety standards already being in place at national level. Their aim is to assess whether the safety margins used in the licensing of nuclear power plants were sufficient to cover unexpected events.

Revision of the Energy Taxation Directive - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 13 April 2011, 18:20 CET

The European Commission has presented a proposal to overhaul the outdated rules on the taxation of energy products in the European Union. The new rules aim to restructure the way energy products are taxed to remove current imbalances and take into account both their CO2 emissions and energy content. Existing energy taxes would be split into two components that, taken together, would determine the overall rate at which a product is taxed. The Commission wants to promote energy efficiency and consumption of more environmentally friendly products and to avoid distortions of competition in the Single Market. The proposal will help Member States to redesign their overall tax structures in a way that contributes to growth and employment by shifting taxation from labour to consumption. The revised Directive would enter into force as of 2013. Long transitional periods for the full alignment of taxation of the energy content, until 2023, will leave time for industry to adapt to the new taxation structure.

European Energy Efficiency Plan - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 08 March 2011, 20:46 CET

The European Commission today adopted a plan for saving more energy through concrete measures. Energy efficiency is a key tool for strengthening Europe's competitiveness and reduces energy dependence, while decreasing the level of emissions. The set of measures proposed aims at creating substantial benefits for households, businesses and public authorities: it should transform our daily lives and generate financial savings of up to EUR 1000 per household every year. It should improve the EU's industrial competitiveness with a potential for the creation of up to 2 million jobs.

Roadmap for moving to a low carbon economy in 2050 - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 15 March 2011, 21:02 CET

The European Commission today adopted a Roadmap for transforming the European Union into a competitive low carbon economy by 2050. The Roadmap describes the cost-effective pathway to reach the EU's objective of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 80-95% of 1990 levels by 2050. Based on the cost-effectiveness analysis undertaken, the Roadmap gives direction to sectoral policies, national and regional low-carbon strategies and long-term investments. The EU needs to start working now on long-term strategies, and the Roadmap provides guidance on how this transition can be achieved in the most cost-effective way. The European Commission has also taken the initiative because leading the global transition to a low carbon and resource-efficient economy will have multiple benefits for the EU.

Third legislative package for an internal EU gas and electricity market - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 03 March 2011, 17:23 CET

The aim of the third energy package is to make the energy market fully effective and to create a single EU gas and electricity market. This will help to keep prices as low as possible and increase standards of service and security of supply.

Preventing abuse in wholesale energy markets - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 08 December 2010, 23:48 CET

The European Commission has today proposed rules on wholesale energy markets to prevent market manipulation and insider trading. The Regulation seeks to ensure market transparency by obliging energy traders to respect clear market rules. Wholesale markets, where gas and electricity is traded between companies producing energy and traders, are key to the prices consumers finally pay.

Emissions Trading: Use restrictions for certain industrial gas credits as of 2013 - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 25 November 2010, 23:19 CET

The European Commissioner for Climate Action, Connie Hedegaard, on 25 November 2010 announced the submission of a proposal to introduce further quality restrictions on the use of credits from industrial gas projects to the Climate Change Committee. Specifically, the proposed Regulation would provide that from 1 January 2013, the use of JI/CDM1 credits from projects involving the destruction of hydrofluorocarbon 23 (HFC-23) and nitrous oxide (N2O) from adipic acid production is prohibited in the EU ETS.

Energy infrastructure - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 18 November 2010, 12:58 CET

The European Commission has presented its energy infrastructure priorities for the next two decades, aimed at making networks fit for the 21st century. In the Communication, the Commission defines EU priority corridors for the transport of electricity, gas and oil. This map of priorities will serve as a basis for future permit granting and financing decisions on concrete EU projects.

New EU energy strategy towards 2020 - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 10 November 2010, 13:01 CET

The Commission has presented its new strategy for a competitive, sustainable and secure energy. The Communication "Energy 2020" defines the energy priorities for the next ten years and sets the actions to be taken in order to tackle the challenges of saving energy, achieving a market with competitive prizes and secure supplies, boosting technological leadership, and effectively negotiate with our international partners.

Safety standards for nuclear waste disposal - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 04 November 2010, 00:39 CET

The European Commission has proposed safety standards for disposing spent fuel and radioactive waste from nuclear power plants as well as from medicine or research. In the Directive put forward today, EU Member States are asked to present national programmes, indicating when, where and how they will construct and manage final repositories aimed at guaranteeing the highest safety standards. With the Directive internationally agreed safety standards become legally binding and enforceable in the European Union.