Renewable energy sources in heating and cooling

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Renewable energy sources in heating and cooling

• Mechtild Rothe,
• Member of the European Parliament
• Amsterdam Forum 2006
• 24. April 2006

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RES-HAn initiative from the European
Parliament

• European Parliament decision in February
• Commissioner Piebalgs announced
• RES-H by 2006
• Biomass action plan (several options for
  legislation in 2006)
• Green paper energy (complementing the Community
  energy saving framework)

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Why do we need a directive on heating and cooling
from renewables?

• 1.) to exploit the great potential
• 49 of the final energy consumption is used for
  heating
• Geothermal, solarthermal and biomass can replace
  large amounts of fossil fuels
• Market progressing so far dependent from
  political framework not from potential
• (for ex. if you compare the solarthermal
  installed in Germany and Portugal)

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Why do we need a directive on heating and cooling
from renewables?

• 2.) to reach the necessary market maturity in
  heating and cooling from renewables
• No budget-independent legislation in the Member
  States
• No market penetration because of stop-and-go
  development
• Gap in the EU regulatory framework
• Buildings directive is too unspecific and too
  weak Biomass action plan is not enough

5
Price development of oil for heating purposes and
wood pellets in Austria
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Why do we need a directive on heating and cooling
from renewables?

• 3.) to meet the 12 target on renewables of
  gross energy consumption by 2010 (White Paper,
  1997)
• The targets included in the Directive 2001/77/EC
  on the promotion of renewable electricity
  correspond roughly to 6 of the EUs primary
  energy consumption, i.e. half of the 12 target
  set in the White Book of 1997.
• The target included in the Directive 2003/30/EC
  on the promotion of biofuels or other renewable
  fuels for transport correspond to roughly 1 of
  the EUs primary energy consumption.
• 5 are missing to reach the EU 12 target. This
  5 can come only from renewable heating and
  cooling.

7
What elements for a EU RES-H directive?

• Clear purpose increase RES-heat use
• EU target at least a doubling in 2020 (22)
• National effective targets
• Removal of administrative barriers, streamlining
  and expediting procedures
• National support schemes
• EU-wide definition
• Monitoring and reporting
• Accompanying measures

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At least a doubling by 2020

• Assuming that a directive would stimulate the
  growth rates for the heating technologies in a
  similar way as the RES electricity technologies,
  the share of RES-H could already grow up from
  today about 11 to about 15 by 2010. An
  additional 10 will then be achievable in a
  realistic way
• Market progressing so far dependent from
  political framework not from potential (for ex.
  If you compare the solarthermal installed in
  Germany and Portugal)

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Share of renewable heat production 2000-2020
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Removal of administrative barriers

• Clear legal framework
• Streamlining and expediting procedures
• Administrative charges transparent, fair and
  non-discriminatory
• No hidden taxation on resources

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National support schemes - principles -

• In accordance with the principle of
• subsidarity MS should decide, but
• Reliable and consistent in the medium term
• Limited in time and gradually reduced
• Avoidance of stop-and-go market developments
• Efficient and systematic support
• Cost-effective

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National support schemes - possible mechanisms -

• Tax advantages/derogations for RE systems
• Direct investment aid
• Regulatory measures (Barcelona model)
• Quota system
• Pay-as-you-go financing
• Direct information and education campaigns (Upper
  Austria)

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Monitoring and reporting

• A standard Europe wide monitoring system must be
  developed
• Establishing reliable statistics will be
  essential for the future of energy supplies
• A monitoring is the only way to assess European
  energy requirements for heating and cooling
• Control of the growth of the renewable share
• Member States develop every three year an action
  plan and report to the Commission

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Accompanying measures

• National and European Information campaigns
• MS should ensure that professional groups
  concerned are familiar with the technologies
• Better use of structural and cohesion funds
• Public sector should be encouraged to prioritise
  heating and cooling from renewables
• Research

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Conclusion

• An increase of renewables is needed for a
  competetive and sustainable energy supply in the
  future
• A RES-H directive is needed in 2006!
• The legislative framework matters
• Time to act!