Participants in the COGEN Europe seminar “Cogeneration and an Integrated Approach to Energy Use and Energy Efficiency in 2020” (EUSEW, Monday 9th Brussels), heard speakers including Claude Turmes MEP, Tom Kerr from the International Energy Agency (IEA) and Pirjo-Liisa Koskimäki (European Commission) highlight the potential for energy efficiency gains through cogeneration in Europe. Claude Turmes also highlighted the tragic missed opportunity of not having included energy efficiency, and cogeneration, initiatives in the
economic recovery plan measures proposed by the European Commission.
Cogeneration (the combined production of useful heat and electricity on one site) provides 11% of Europe’s electricity today. The potential exists to at least double this level. Yet this highly efficient technology is at risk of being written out of the low carbon economy by more heavily promoted alternatives. Claude Turmes who is a long term advocate of strong action on both energy efficiency and renewables gave full voice to his concerns about the priorities of Europe’s technology investments: "The high efficiency of CHP makes it a key strategy to reach the EU’s climate and energy goals. As gas based CHP has lower CO2 emissions per Kwh than the best CCS power plant to be built, it is not well balanced when the Barroso Commission is throwing billions at the CCS lobby and is leaving CHP investments with 0€ support in the economic recovery plan proposed last week!”
The EUSEW seminar looked at the policy hurdles of integrating an energy efficiency
strategy incorporating elements such as cogeneration into today’s energy policy. The IEA presented their latest findings showing the real aggregate benefits of potential CHP growth in 2015 and 2030 in the G8 and the +5 countries. Comparing the IEA World Energy Outlook’s Reference Scenario and Accelerated Policy Scenario (APS) with an Accelerated CHP Scenario, the results are clear: an Accelerated CHP Scenario will deliver a good start in emissions reductions by 2015, and a much larger reduction – on the order of 10% from the IEA APS – by 2030.
Fiona Riddoch, Managing Director of COGEN Europe, said “Cogeneration supports all of Europe’s three energy targets for 2020: it saves primary fuel, reduces CO2 emissions and creates employment potential in Europe. This is an energy saving technology that is being applied now and could respond to financial stimulus within the critical 2009-2010 economic recovery plan time scale. Cogeneration is a win-win solution for both Europe’s Strategic Energy Policy and its Economic Recovery and COGEN Europe calls on the European Parliament to correct the omission of the European Commission by adding cogeneration and energy efficiency measures to the recovery plan!
Contact Fiona Riddoch, Managing Director COGEN Europe
+32 2 772 82 90