A workshop organised today in Dublin during the Irish Presidency of the EU and in the framework of the CODE2[1] project, discussed the measures that should feature in a Cogeneration Roadmap for Ireland. Industrial cogeneration emerged as a key element in reaching the national energy savings target. “My country is well on its way to implementing a cogeneration friendly framework”, MEP Seán Kelly said. “With such a policy we can kill two birds with one stone: improving the competitiveness of industries hosting cogeneration units while reducing their climate footprint. If Europe wants a way out of its economic crisis, this kind of approach should be replicated.”
 
Ireland’s energy challenges are exacerbated by the specific situation of being an island. The need to lower primary energy imports for industry and power, which is a major issue in Europe as a whole, is particularly acute in Ireland. Finding a way to provide industrial and commercial heat in the most effective way is one of the focus topics of the workshop.  
 
The CODE2 project will develop National Cogeneration Roadmaps for all EU Member States that will help to further improve the policy framework, market conditions and awareness around cogeneration in each EU Member State. The aim of today’s workshop in Dublin was to provide Irish policy-makers with a practical tool to realise their country’s identified cogeneration potential and to reach its energy and climate targets. The CODE2 project is a follow-up to the CODE project[2] that identified that Europe has the potential to double its cogeneration capacity. Through individual roadmaps the new project will offer Member States a concrete way forward and thereby significantly contribute to realising Europe’s energy efficiency potential.

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For more information please contact:
       
Dr Fiona Riddoch, Managing Director
Tel: +32 2 772 8290
Fax: + 32 2 772 5044
Email: fiona.riddoch@cogeneurope.eu

Stefan Craenen, Communications Manager
Tel: +32 2 772 8290
Fax: + 32 2 772 5044
Email: stefan.craenen@cogeneurope.eu
 
About cogeneration:
Cogeneration (also known as CHP or Combined Heat and Power) involves the simultaneous production of heat and electricity from a single plant which results in massive savings to the economy of primary energy and consequential reductions of GHG emissions.
Today, a significant 11.7 % of Europe’s electricity is generated using a vast array of proven and cost effective techniques (cumulative capacity > 100 GWe). About half of the heat produced is used in district heating network while the remaining half serves industrial needs. Cogeneration units can be found in various sectors and sizes: in industries, households and tertiary buildings and in capacities ranging from a kilowatt to hundreds of MegaWatts electricity output. CHP plants can draw upon a wide range of energy sources, from traditional fossil fuels to renewable energies (combustion-based units with biomass, biogases or bioliquids, or steam-based plant connected to geothermal or concentrated solar panel installations) that make them ready to the future energy system.
Realising the identified economic potential for cogeneration in Europe –estimated at 110-120 GWe additional- will be instrumental to reaching our strategic climate and energy goals, while underpinning job creation and being an engine to industrial competitiveness.
 
About COGEN Europe:
COGEN Europe is the European association for the promotion of cogeneration. We represent 70 organisations which are National COGEN Associations, manufacturers, users, utilities and service companies. Currently around 100,000 Europeans are employed in the cogeneration sector. More info on www.cogeneurope.eu