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New Europe-wide initiative to exploit the existing cogeneration potential: CODE2

Date

19 Sep 2012

Sections

Energy

IEE project will develop Cogeneration Roadmaps to stimulate the take-up of cogeneration in Europe

Providing national policy-makers with a practical tool to realise their country’s identified cogeneration potential is the central aim of a new European project launched on 1st July 2012. Over the next 30 months the CODE2 project will develop 27 National Cogeneration Roadmaps that will help to further improve the policy framework, market conditions and awareness around cogeneration in each EU Member State. The research will for the first time specifically include an analysis of potentials of bio-energy CHP and micro-CHP in each of the EU Member States.

The new Energy Efficiency Directive (EED), repealing the Cogeneration Directive, provides a new legal tool for cogeneration by proposing national heating and cooling plans and other policy initiatives. The CODE2 experts will incorporate as much as possible the final form of these plans in their roadmaps. Dr Fiona Riddoch, Managing Director of COGEN Europe, said “Cogeneration is an opportunity Europe cannot afford to ignore if it wishes to reach its energy and climate targets. Member States should use the opportunities offered in the EED to put the right frameworks in place and address existing hurdles. CODE2 will help by gathering and sharing best practice examples from successful national approaches.”

CODE2 is co-funded by the IEE (Intelligent Energy Europe) programme and the project consortium gathers experts from across the European Union: COGEN Europe, which is leading the project, the Hellenic Association for the Cogeneration of Heat and Power (Greece), Jožef Stefan Institute (Slovenia), Federazione delle associazioni scientifiche e techniche (FAST, Italy), COGEN Vlaanderen (Belgium), Energy Matters (Netherlands), Berlin Energy Agency (Germany) and KWK kommt (Germany).

The CODE2 project is a follow up to the CODE project (www.code-project.eu) that was the first body to monitor and report back on the implementation of the 2004 Cogeneration Directive. The project found that despite the Directive’s impetus cogeneration did not substantially increase in Europe. Member States were obliged to identify the potential for cogeneration but there was no obligation to act upon these findings. 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) is the simultaneous production of heat and electricity. 11% of Europe’s electricity and associated heat requirements today are produced using this proven energy efficiency principle. The estimated growth potential for cogeneration is a further 110-120 GWe which will lead to an improved environment and greater economic competitiveness in Europe. Cogeneration units can be found in different sizes and applications: industry, households and tertiary sector and spans applications with capacities ranging from below 1kw to hundreds of Megawatts. It is a highly efficient energy solution that delivers energy savings and substantial reductions in CO2 emissions. When seriously supported, as in Denmark, CHP has the potential to increase the energy production and transformation system overall efficiency from a bare 33% (EU average) up to 65%. Realising the potential of cogeneration in Europe will contribute significantly to reaching the strategic climate and energy goals, such as security of supply, energy efficiency and reduction of emissions.

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