At the heart of the 3rd Legislative Package is the development of EU-wide network codes on topic areas for the integration of EU electricity and gas markets, enabling cross-border trade and competition to develop across EU energy markets. Upon a request from the European Commission, ERGEG is using the so-called...
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On July 20, 2010 the European Commission published new FP 7 calls with several topics providing opportunities for hydrogen projects; the Energy 2 Call for example with the topic “ENERGY.2011.7.3-2: Storage and balancing variable electricity supply and demand” as well as the Research Infrastructure Call, that provides a possibility...
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At the heart of the 3rd Legislative Package is the development of EU-wide network codes on topic areas for the integration of EU electricity and gas markets, enabling cross-border trade and competition to develop across EU energy markets. Upon a request from the European Commission, ERGEG is using the so-called...
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The Official Journal of the EU , announced in its June 18 , 2010 issue the publication of the third Call for proposals of the Joint Undertaking for Fuel Cell and Hydrogen. Call information has been published on the Cordis website. A little over € 89 mln is available for Transport, hydrogen...
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The EU Competitiveness Council on May 25, 2010 indicated in its conclusions on the EU Clean and Energy Efficient Vehicles Strategy that “hydrogen vehicles remain a valid ultra-low-carbon mobility option in the mediumterm perspective, as affordability of the car and of the fuel is achieved; also NOTES that hydrogen vehicles...
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The Commission’s Communication on Clean and Energy Efficient Vehciles (COM 2010/186) is an important step forward in policy support for green car technologies. The video’s, shown during Commissioner Tajani’s press conference (April 28, 2010) of hydrogen cars, filling up at public hydrogen refuelling stations in Berlin and driving through the...
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At a seminar at the EU Parliament on April 15, organised by Spanish MEP Teresa Riera Madurell, the Spanish Secretary General for Industry, Teresa Santero, presented her government’s strong support for the development of the electric car. Although indicating that hydrogen technology will be supported in the future, the need for fast...
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The European Commission published a new guide to support local authorities and researchers to identify useful financial supprot mnechanisms for theri R&D projecs. The guide can be downloaded at the Cordis website. Recently an own initiative report on the implementation of the synergies of research and innovation earmarked Funds in...
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The EU Commission annoucned its plan to present the eU Energy Action Plan for 2010- 2014 this May as a follow-up to the 2007-2009 the approved common European 20-20-20 energy policy and energy market policy in 2007 that resulted in the adoption of the energy and climate package. The...
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EU Industry Commissioner Antonio Tajani met with ministers in charge of industry on 19 February identifying green technologies as a strategic medium-term perspective for the industry to improve its competitiveness. “A European strategy on Clean and Energy-Efficient Cars should be developed and implemented that sets out the necessary actions...
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The EU Competitiveness Council on March 1 invited the Commission to develop an Action Plan for Clean and Energy-efficient vehicles (including the growing role of fully electric cars and plug in hybrids) that will: a) encourage the development of the necessary infrastructure in Europe for new mobility technologies, in...
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The Europe 2020 Strategy, launched by the Commision on March 3 should steer Europe out of the crisis and prepare EU economy for the next decade. The Commission identifies three key drivers for growth, to be implemented through concrete actions at EU and national levels: smart growth (fostering knowledge,...
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The European Commission and the EIB have launched the ELENA Facility, with a EUR 15 million fund managed by the EIB, to improve the preparation of quality projects in the fields of energy efficiency and renewable energy sources. This Facility aims to prepare investment programmes in cities that can...
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The European Commission published the results of the first JTI Call: 16 projects were approved among which a big vehicles demonstration project “H2Moves Scandanavia”, involving Daimler and Fiat fuel cell cars. Also the third extension of the succesful Hydrosolproject to produce hydrogen from solar thermal has been funded. Five...
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A draft plan of the Commission , sent to member states the last week of the new year , sets out the rules on allocating the 300 million allowances of the ‘new entrants reserve’ of the EU ETS to CCS and renewable projects. At a carbon price of €20...
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At the occasion of the COP 15, Siemens presented the European Green City Index, a study on the environmental sustainability of 30 major cities in 30 European countries in which it emerges that Copenhagen is the “greenest” major city in Europe, followed by Stockholm, Oslo, Vienna, and Amsterdam. The...
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The level of innovation in regions varies considerably across almost all EU countries. This is one of the main findings of the 2009 Regional Innovation Scoreboard (RIS), published on 14 December 2009 by the Institute for the Protection and Security of the Citizen (IPSC), one of the seven institutes...
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The Commission approved on 9 December, 15 energy projects which will significantly contribute to the economic recovery of the EU, while increasing security of energy supply and substantially reduce CO2 emissions. With this decision, the Commission grants €1 billion to six Carbon Capture and Storage projects and €565 million...
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José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, has announced, on 27 November 2009, the portfolios responsibilities for the next Commission. They will take office in January, after the audition of each member by the European Parliament, from 11 to 19 January 2010. Changes in the Portfolio The new...
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The proposal for the new Energy Efficiency Plan sets binding energy efficiency targets for Member States. The draft, entitled “7 Measures for 2 Million New EU Jobs”, aims to simplify the 2006 Efficiency Action Plan, by focusing on a range of binding and effective measures. It also acknowledges that...
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Following the re-election of José Manuel Barroso at the head of the European Commission for the next five years on, September 16 by the EU Parliament, the outline of the new Commission is excepted to be established at the end of October. However, sources in the European Commission indicated that...
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The European Commission, along with leaders from 22 world countries, explored on 13 October 2009, the best ways to accelerate the commercialisation of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) at the 3rd Ministerial Meeting of the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum (CSLF), an international climate change initiative focussed on the development...
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The European Commission recently launched an online Strategic Energy Technologies (SET-Plan) Information System, “SETIS”, which provides the latest research results on the status, forecasts and R&D investment figures for low-carbon technologies. It underpins the effective strategic planning, conception and implementation of EU energy technology policy and serves notably to...
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A long awaited communication of the European Commission on the financing of the EU Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET-Plan) came out on October 7th indicating a need to increase EU annual private and public investment from €3 to €8 billion. The SET Plan is regarded the technology pillar of...
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The European Commission’s Urban Mobility Action Plan was presented on 30 September in a move designed to help local and national authorities make urban travel ”easier, greener and better organised”. The action plan encourages cities to exchange information and good practices, eventually leading to a “set of voluntary commitments”. The plan proposes 20 actions, divided among...
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The EU’s bid for leadership in green technologies will focus on developing a network of “smart cities” to demonstrate renewable and other low-carbon energies in Europe, according to draft European Commission proposals. The recommendations are featured in a draft communication setting out funding for the EU’s Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET...
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The European Institute for Innovation and Technology has appointed its first director. The EIT Governing Board has appointed Gérard de Nazelle as the first director of the Institute. Mr de Nazelle will play a key role in guiding the EIT and its Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) towards full...
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As the architecture of the new Commission is expected to be established at the end of October, this next Commission will have to translate tougher climate commitments into policies. This was what Commission President José Manuel Barroso emphasized when he detailed his priorities for the next five years to the European Parliament. Thus,...
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The post-holiday relaunch of the European Parliament was committed to the priorities of Swedish Presidency at the Council of the European Union and the audition of three new commissioners. The topics dominating this week agenda were institutional/power-oriented and concerned climate talks, the EU strategy to United Nations Climate Change...
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On 5th August 2009, President Obama announced 48 new advanced battery and electric drive projects that will receive $2.4 billion in funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. These projects, selected through a highly competitive process by the Department of Energy, will accelerate the development of U.S. manufacturing...
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On July 30, 2009 the European Commission published new Energy and Transport Calls as part of the Seventh Research Framework. The topics include those that support the recently established Pulic Private Partenrships under EU Economic Recovery Package: Green Car Initiative, Energy Efficiency in Building and Factories of the Future....
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Following the first session of the newly-elected European Parliament in Strasbourg on July 14-16, the chairs of the committees and the key positions have been granted. German MEP Herbert Reul from the centre-right European Peoples Party (EPP) was elected chairman of the Industry, Research and Energy committee while the...
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On the eve of the first anniversary of the launching of the Union for the Mediterranean (Paris, 13 July 2008), the European Commission announced an additional contribution of €72 million, for 2009-2010, to the areas identified as priorities by the Euro-Mediterranean Heads of State and Government in Paris. Work...
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A report by the Stockholm Environment Institute, entitled ‘A European Eco-efficient Economy’, will provide a basis for discussions during an informal meeting of energy and environment ministers in Åre on 23-25 July. Thus, Sweden, which took over the EU’s rotating Presidency on July 1st, has pledged to put energy...
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With the publication on July 2, 2009 of the second call for proposals of the EU Joint Undretaking for fuel cells and hydrogen (JU FCH) Europe stays on course to realise the full potential of fuel cell and hydrogen technologies and to create a cleaner energy system for the...
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In reference to our earlier annoucements, the second Call for proposals of the Joint Undertaking for fuel cells and hydrogen (JU FCH) is expected to come out the second week of July. Please check the latest updates at the JTI...
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A public consultation on rules to govern the future auctioning of emission allowances under the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) has been launched by consultants working for the European Commission. The consultation forms part of the Commission’s preparation of a Regulation on auctioning of allowances with respect to...
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The European Commission has published an online consultation to seek input on the review of the Action Plan for Energy Efficiency (EEAP). EU Heads of States and Governments have endorsed an ambitious European Energy policy which seeks to enable the European Union to reduce greenhouse gases by at least...
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From 2004 to 2009, a period corresponding to the terms of the European Commission and European Parliament, many successes have been achieved in science and research. The most ambitious European research programme so far was launched and significant advances in building the European Research Area were achieved, with new...
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The European Energy Programme for Recovery, EEPR, regulation establishes a financing instrument for the development of projects in the field of energy in the EU. By providing a financial impulse it will contribute to economic recovery, the security of energy supply and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. It...
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Earth’s median surface temperature could rise 5.2 degrees C) by 2100, the scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found, compared to a 2003 study that projected a median temperature increase of 4.3 degrees F (2.4 degrees C). The new study, published in the American Meteorological Society’s Journal of...
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The European Investment Bank (EIB) on May 12 approved €750 million in loans to European-based automotive companies worth to develop cleaner vehicles. DAF trucks in the Netherlands will receive €150 million for a research and development project and Ford will receive loans worth €400 million for the construction aplant...
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The EU Parliament, on the day before MEP’s will be on their election campaign trails, approved funding for several energy projects to be initiaited before the end of 2010. The projects are part of a €5 billion economic recovery plan which also includes €1.02 billion to broadband Internet connections and rural...
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On March 30, 2008 the Council of the EU adopted a Directive (COM 2007/475) to promote energy efficient road transport vehicles in public fleets. The Directive aims to stimulate the market for clean and efficient vehicles and to prompt developments and investments by the industry. Increased sales will help...
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The objective of European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), established last September in Prague is to be a key driver of sustainable European growth and competitiveness through the stimulation of top class innovations with a positive impact on economy and society. As the first major step in developing...
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The EU published the IEE Call 2009 dedicating Euro 65 mln to energy effciency and renewable energy projects. The transport part (STEER) features funding for electric vehicles this year. The section Integrated initiaitves includes funding for communites to help them join the Convenant of the Mayors. Cogeneration projects are...
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The Czech EU Presidency and the Parliament’s negotiators endorsed the list of eligible energy projects agreed by EU heads of state and government in March, including initiatives on Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), offshore wind or the Nabucco gas pipeline, will now also be open to energy-efficiency measures and...
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The objective of European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), established last Septemebr in Prague is to be a key driver of sustainable European growth and competitiveness through the stimulation of top class innovations with a positive impact on economy and society. As the first major step in developing...
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European Commissioner for Regional Policy, Daniela Hübner announced on March 9, 2009 that €105 billion will be invested in the “green economy” through the EU Cohesion Policy. The funding represents more than 30% of the regional policy budget for 2007-2013. Commissioner Hübner said: “Support for the green economy and...
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The Council of the EU’s leaders on March 19 – 20, 2009, approved six Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) projects as part of the EU Economic Recovery Plan, that will use pre- combustion technology, allowing the production of hydrogen as a by product. The projects approved are located in...
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On March 13 European Commissioner for Science and Research, Janez Potočnik, opened a new facility for testing fuel consumption and emissions of trucks and buses. The new installation, “VELA 7″ at the Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) in Ispra (Northern Italy), realistically simulates wind drag, tyre/road friction and full...
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On the occasion of the Motorshow in Geneva the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the International Energy Agency (IEA), the International Transport Forum (ITF) and the FIA Foundation launched the ’50 by 50′ Global Fuel Economy Initiative to promote the development of a global car fleet that runs on 50% less fuel...
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At a big ceremony hosted by the European Parliament on Febraury 10 more that 350 cities across Europe have committed, by signing the Covenant of Mayors, to go beyond the EU’s energy objective of reducing 20% CO2 emissions by 2020. With this initiative of the European Commission in partnership...
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At a conference in Madrid, 51 states laid the foundations and agreed on the text of the Statute of IRENA, the International Renewable Energy Agency, that will be signed at an official ceremony on 26 January 2009 in Bonn. IRENA will support industrialised and developing countries in expanding renewable...
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MEPs discussed Europe’s car industry as Industry Commissioner Günter Verheugen indicated that sales could fall by up to 1 million cars next year. Around 15 million Europeans are employed in the motor industry and one of the main names -Opel (Vauxhall in the UK) – is in difficulty due...
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The EU-27 urban development Ministers met in Marseille to discuss how different policies can contribute to sustainable urban development. As a follow-up to the May 2007 Leipzig Charter on integrated sustainable urban development, ministers committed to building a reference framework for sustainable cities. The framework would outline the general...
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