No C 337/64 Official Journal of the European Communities 31. 12. 88 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Recommendation to the Member States to promote 
cooperation between public electricity supply companies and auto-producers of electricity (!) 
(88/C 337/21) 
On 1 June 1988 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, 
under Article 235 of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community on the 
abovementioned proposal. 
The section for energy, nuclear questions and research, which was responsible for preparing 
the Committee's work on the subject, adopted its Opinion on 7 October 1988. The rapporteur 
was Mr Mainetti. 
At its 259th plenary session (meeting of 27 October 1988) the Economic and Social Committee 
adopted the following Opinion by a majority, with 1 abstention. 
The Committee fully supports the Commission's objec­
tives and approves the new draft Recommendation, 
which it sees as an expression of political will and an 
indication of how these objectives are to be achieved. 
It would, however, draw attention to the problems 
which might arise when the Member States implement 
the Recommendation alongside existing policies, and 
suggest how the development of RWC (2) energy sources 
might be encouraged. 
1. Introduction 
1.1. The draft Council Recommendation sets out to 
promote cooperation between public electricity supply 
companies and auto-producers of electricity (3). It is 
consistent with Community energy policy objectives (4) 
whose priorities include reducing dependency on 
imported oil and protecting the environment by con­
serving energy and diversifying sources. 
1.2. The present proposal complements Council Rec­
ommendation 77/714/EEC of 25 October 1977 on pro­
moting combined heat and power production and 
exploiting residual heat(5). 
2. Observations 
2.1. There is still a keen interest in these sources of 
energy. Production should be encouraged for environ-
(!) OJ No C 172, 1. 7. 1988, p. 9. 
(2) Renewable energies, Waste energy and Combined heat and 
power. 
(3) For a definition of auto-producers, see p. 4 (11) of the Rec­
ommendation of 4 May 1988. 
(4) Council resolution of 16 September 1986 concerning new 
Community energy policy objectives for 1995 and conver­
gence of the policies of the Member States (OJ No C 241, 
25. 9. 1986). 
(5) OJNoL295, 18. 11. 1977. mental and energy policy reasons, though the Com­
mission itself increasingly doubts whether these forms 
of energy will contribute significantly to the Com­
munity's energy supply by 1995 (it is only after the year 
2000 that they are expected to meet roughly 5 % of the 
Community's primary energy requirements). 
2.1.1. The long-term role which hydrocarbons are 
expected to play in the Community's energy consump­
tion pattern is also likely to cause delays: as a result 
of recent worldwide discoveries, known deposits have 
increased from 71 275 million tonnes in 1970 to 121 554 
million tonnes at the end of 1987 in the case of oil, and 
from 32 540 million tep to 87 160 million tep in the 
case of natural gas. Even allowing for restrictions 
imposed by environmental policy, this will probably 
lead to an increase in hydrocarbon supply, with a 
consequent adjustment in prices. 
2.1.2. This is a further reason for making every 
effort to overcome the obstacles which have hitherto 
hampered the development of renewable sources of 
energy. 
2.1.3. There are good grounds for offering incentives 
to promote the use of renewable sources of energy 
where there is hard evidence that such sources will 
sooner or later become economically viable; otherwise, 
efforts should be concentrated on research and demon­
stration programmes. 
2.1.4. This is the message of the Economic and Social 
Committee's Opinion of 21 May 1986 on 'A Com­
munity orientation to develop new and renewable 
energy sources' (6). 
2.2. The importance of hydroelectric power as a 
renewable source of energy is firmly established in some 
Member States. 
2.2.1. In 1986, this sector produced 177 634 GWh 
(Community of 12), of which approximately 23 000 
GWh was supplied by auto-producers. Total electricity 
production was 1 518 731 GWh. 
(6) OJ No C 207, 28. 8. 1986, No 11. 
31. 12. 88 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 337/65 
2.2.2. It is important to make maximum use of this 
source of energy, hence the case for constructing mini 
power stations. 
2.3. The growing interest in wind energy is also 
significant. It is already competitive in electricity pro­
duction in the remotest and most isolated regions where 
there are favourable wind conditions, i.e. sufficiently 
high average wind velocities and the absence or extreme 
rarity of violent gusts. 
2.3.1. Worth mentioning here is the case of Den­
mark, which probably leads the field in the introduction 
of aerogenerators. In December 1985 there were 1 400 
aerogenerators in Denmark with a total capacity of 
62 MW. Wind farms have also been built, each with a 
750 kW generator (e.g. Masned Windmollepark); 
others with a 2 000 kW capacity are currently under 
construction. At the last conference on wind energy, 
held in Herning, it was announced that over the next 
fifteen years additional generators with a capacity of 
over 3 000 MW would be installed, mainly in Denmark, 
the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. The PAOLO 
programme, part of Spain's energy plan, is also signifi­
cant. 
2.4. Tidal power plants on the other hand pose seri­
ous problems as they could profoundly alter the 
environment. 
2.5. Waste combustion also presents serious ecologi­
cal problems and is therefore unlikely to be widely used 
as a source of energy. Detailed studies are currently 
being carried out at Community level. 
2.5.1. Nevertheless, it is vital to find ways of using 
waste combustion in electricity generation, the energy 
supply aspect being less important than the fact that it 
would offer a solution to environmental problems; 
work in this area should therefore be encouraged. 
2.5.2. Training programmes should also be intro­
duced to provide specialists with technical expertise 
in the installation and operation of power stations. 
Cooperation with Member States which have already 
found solutions to this problem would be desirable. 
2.6. Of the types of electricity examined by the Com­
mission, combined heat/power production by local elec­
tricity companies and industry offers obvious advan­
tages (a yield of up to 80% of primary energy input, 
as opposed to only 35-40% in condensing power sta­
tions). Its development is, however, dependent on a 
number of factors, notably the need to find uses for the 
heat/steam produced. 2.6.1. It has been singularly successful in terms of 
energy conservation, the electrical engineering industry, 
environmental protection and job creation. 
2.7. The use of agricultural products as renewable 
energy sources is still a thing of the future. The Com­
munity is currently looking into this possibility. 
2.8. The upshot of this state of affairs is that the 
draft Recommendation's provisions are principally of 
relevance for the production of hydroelectricity, 
residual heat in industry and combined heat/steam and 
power. 
2.9. The importance of the draft Recommendation 
—and its economic consequences—means that Member 
States must take due account of likely/potential trends 
in electricity consumption by the various categories of 
user within the Community. 
2.9.1. In recent years there have been widespread 
signs of a recession in heavy industry: restructuring 
plans in various industrial sectors (steel, mechanical 
engineering, chemicals and refineries) are one indication 
of this. 
2.9.2. The manifold and complex causes of the 
recession do not fall within the scope of this paper. 
2.9.3. One cause which does deserve mention, how­
ever, as it has a bearing on others and is a useful piece 
of background information for our present discussions, 
is the problem of surplus production capacity at a time 
of sluggish, and, in the case of some countries, shrinking 
demand (partly attributable to expansion in other geo­
graphical areas). 
2.9.4. Although large amounts are still used in some 
processes, the level and 'natural' growth rate of the 
electricity consumption of large-scale industry has been 
curbed by energy conservation measures, amongst other 
factors. 
2.9.5. On the other hand, as a result of—and reaction 
to—the recession in some parts of industry, small and 
medium-sized firms have been mushrooming. This 
should boost demand for electricity in the short and 
medium term. 
2.9.6. Again, it would be reasonable to assume that 
there will be a general increase in demand on the part 
of domestic users, though this will fluctuate from one 
Member State to another. 
No C 337/66 Official Journal of the European Communities 31. 12. 88 
2.10. It should be borne in mind that the proposed 
cooperation must result in an equitable share-out of 
responsibilities and benefits between auto-producers 
and companies operating the national grid. 
2.10.1. In this respect it has to be remembered that 
public supply companies would be entirely responsible 
for guaranteeing the quality (voltage and frequency) 
and quantity (reserve generating capacity and cables) 
of supply to the national grid (this is recognized by all 
parties). 
2.10.2. If a fair balance is to be struck between auto-
producers and public supply companies, differences 
must be foreseen and forestalled and their impact as­
sessed, though measures should be neither over-prudent 
nor over-optimistic. 
2.11. Without upsetting the balance between public 
electricity supply companies and auto-producers, the 
most careful consideration should be given here to 
the other services which public supply companies may 
provide under this kind of arrangement. 
2.11.1. Particularly important are: 
— the transmission of auto-produced energy by the 
public grid, from the point of production to the 
point of use, 
— the provision of additional and emergency supplies. 
2.11.2. In short, the public grid should provide an 
energy-bank function to ensure that maximum use is 
made of all energy resources. 
2.12. As for the price of electricity sold to the public 
network, (point 3.2 of the Recommendation) measures 
to encourage greater production of electricity from 
RWC should include (a) an allowance proportionate to 
the variable costs which have been saved (the equivalent 
fuel costs), according to usual practice in the Member 
States and (b) an allowance for the fixed costs which 
have been saved, the actual percentage depending on 
the reliability of the supply to the public network. 
2.12.1. Nevertheless, other incentives should also be 
introduced by national governments to encourage, for 
example: 
— the use of indigenous energy sources, 
— diversification of fuels, 
— energy conservation, and 
— the least harmful effect on the environment. 
2.12.2. These elements, which should be adopted to 
conditions in individual Member States, would also 
contribute to the clarity and transparency of data. 2.13. Electricity output could also be boosted by 
providing specific financial assistance—particularly in 
the area of combined heat and power—for installation 
of gas turbines by auto-producer industries which use 
large quantities of steam to power their plants. 
2.13.1. If the extra electricity produced is sold to the 
public network, the cost of repowering(1) should be 
taken into account in the price offered by the public 
supply company to the auto-producer. The two parties 
should therefore agree in advance on repowering, to 
ensure that their programmes are compatible, in the 
general interest. 
3. Conclusion 
3.1. The prerequisite for cooperation of any kind is 
a willingness on both sides to explore new avenues with 
the aim of deciding jointly on the objective with the 
greatest potential. 
3.2. Economic interests will prevail in the case of 
auto-producers, whereas the public supply company 
has also to take into consideration its commitment/ 
responsibility to meet the needs of the community. The 
two sets of aims thus are not entirely comparable and 
the variety of constraints (legal, administrative and 
technical) in the Member States will not make it any 
easier to reconcile them. The Member States should 
then ensure that these constraints which restrict the 
incentive for public company to use the supply from 
auto-producers are removed and that, as far as practi­
cal, the interests of the supply companies and the auto-
producers are reconciled. 
3.3. When it comes to applying the Recommen­
dation, steps will also have to be taken to ensure that 
fixed-term programmes, no matter how justifiable, do 
not upset the balance of the respective roles, and hence 
the stability of the cooperation process. 
(') Repowering: the up-grading of a conventional thermal power 
station (fuel, steam, electricity) by installing gas turbine sets 
in order to (1) increase the amount of electricity generated; 
(2) improve the overall efficiency of the stations by recuperat­
ing the head contained in the waste gases from the gas 
turbines: instead of being released into the atmosphere, these 
gases are harnessed to generate steam (which in turn powers 
the steam turbine sets). 
31. 12. 88 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 337/67 
3.4. In other words fundamental objectives will 
have to be achieved through flexible measures sensi­tive to the fluctuating demand for and supply of 
electricity. 
Done at Brussels, 27 October 1988. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Alberto MASPRONE 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive on informing the population about health 
measures to be applied and steps to be taken in the event of a radiological emergency 
(88/C 337/22) 
On 30 June 1988, the Commission of the European Communities decided to consult the 
Economic and Social Committee, under the provisions of the Treaty establishing the European 
Atomic Energy Community, in particular Article 31 thereof, on the abovementioned proposal. 
The section for energy, nuclear questions and research, which was responsible for preparing 
the Committee's work on the subject, adopted its Opinion on 7 October 1988. The rapporteur 
was Mr Saiu. 
At its 259th plenary session (meeting of 27 October 1988) the Economic and Social Committee 
adopted the following Opinion by a majority with 1 abstention. 
The Committee approves the objective of the Com­
mission proposal, namely introduction of public-infor­
mation procedures and measures with a view to improv­
ing the practical health protection provided in the event 
of a radiological emergency. In the Committee's view, 
however, the ways and means proposed are inadequate 
at the present time and do not meet public expectations, 
especially in the wake of the Chernobyl nuclear acci­
dent. The Commission is urged to heed the comments 
and proposed amendments set out in this Opinion. advisory duties under the Euratom Treaty, Article 31 
in particular. 
1.2. The Committee reserves the right to carry out 
later a detailed examination of all the measures taken by 
the Community pursuant to Chapter III of the Euratom 
Treaty regarding health protection; the Commission 
undertook to take these measures in its Communication 
of August 1986. 
2. Comments 
1. Preliminary comments 
1.1. The Committee would first express its concern 
over the tight deadline for the present Opinion: this has 
prevented it from carrying out essential consultations 
in a field which has assumed special importance follow­
ing the Chernobyl accident. The Committee has already 
protested strongly in the past against this state of affairs 
which makes it difficult for it to carry out properly its 2.1. The situation prevailing after the Chernobyl 
nuclear accident, which has already been described 
many times, made it essential that measures and pro­
cedures for informing the population be drawn up and 
implemented and that they improve the practical health 
protection provided in the event of a radiological emer­
gency. This accident has shown that, as far as exposure 
to radioactivity is concerned, the whole population of 
the Community is in effect living in the vicinity of a 
nuclear power station.