A4-0145/98

Resolution on the communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on a Community strategy to promote combined heat and power (CHP) and to dismantle barriers to its development (COM(97)0514 - C4-0596/97)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission communication (COM(97)0514 - C4-0596/97),

- having regard to the Council Resolution of 18 December 1997 on a Community strategy to promote combined heat and power ((OJ C 4, 8.1.1998, p. 1.)),

- having regard to the communication from the Commission on the European Community gas supply and prospects (COM(95)0478),

- having regard to its resolution of 14 November 1996 on the communication from the Commission on the European Community gas supply and prospects ((OJ C 362, 2.12.1996, p. 291.)),

- having regard to the Commission White Paper on an energy policy for the European Union (COM(95)0682),

- having regard to the communication from the Commission on an overall view of energy policy and actions (COM(97)0167),

- having regard to the communication from the Commission concerning the organization of cooperation around agreed Community energy objectives (COM(97)0436),

- having regard to the proposal for a Council Decision adopting a multiannual framework programme for actions in the energy sector (1998-2002) and connected measures (COM(97)0550),

- having regard to Council Decision 96/737/EC of 16 December 1996 concerning a multiannual programme for the promotion of energy efficiency in the European Union (Save II) ((OJ L 335, 24.12.1996, p. 50.)),

- having regard to the communication from the Commission on the energy dimension of climate change (COM(97)0196),

- having regard to the communication from the Commission on a Community strategy to combat acidification (COM(97)0088),

- having regard to European Parliament and Council Directive 96/92/EC of 19 December 1996 concerning common rules for the internal market in electricity ((OJ L 27, 30.1.1997, p. 20.)),

- having regard to the common position of the Council on the proposal for a Directive concerning common rules for the internal market in natural gas (C4-0103/98),

- having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions,

- having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee,

- having regard to the communication from the Commission 'Energy for the future: Renewable sources of energy' (COM(97)0599),

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Research, Technological Development and Energy and the opinion of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection (A4-0145/98),

A. having regard to the three basic objectives of European Union energy policy: competitiveness, security of supply and protection of the environment,

B. having regard to the problems of pollution and atmospheric change caused by the use and consumption of energy,

C. having regard to the absolute and urgent need to make more efficient use of natural resources and specifically of energy resources,

D. noting that the use of new technologies in electricity generation such as combined cycles or the combined production of electricity and steam or heat, i.e. cogeneration, makes it possible to achieve significant energy savings,

E. having regard to the necessary competitiveness required from electricity producers by the liberalization of electricity markets,

F. having regard to the opportunity to extend the use of gas in Europe opened up by cogeneration,

G. having regard to the large resources of gas existing in various areas of the planet, which make diversified supplies of gas possible, and the foreseeable increase in gas consumption in the EU in the coming years,

1. Supports the Commission proposal to promote cogeneration and dismantle barriers to the development of combined heat and power (CHP);

2. Would, however, like to see the proportion of CHP in the Commission¨s strategy increased from the current 18% to at least 25%;

3. Points out that the more efficient use of energy which cogeneration represents will help to improve the competitiveness of those industries which are large energy consumers;

4. Suggests that the Commission and above all the Member States introduce administrative and economic measures to boost the combined production of power and heat to supply hot water and heating for domestic purposes;

5. Affirms that cogeneration in industry, combined cycles in the electricity sector, in particular where cogeneration and the combined production of heat and power for domestic purposes make a significant contribution to reducing the emission of pollutants into the atmosphere by making more efficient use of energy;

6. Points out that the higher energy efficiency obtained in the new forms of production of power and heat or steam in industry and for domestic purposes represents the most positive step in reducing the greenhouse effect, particularly if renewable CO2-neutral forms of biomass are used;

7. Proposes that, when national targets are set for the reduction of CO2 emissions, account be taken of cogeneration's contribution to meeting the Kyoto commitments on climate change;

8. Suggests that, for barriers to the development of cogeneration to be effectively dismantled, electricity market operators must accept as a priority the excess power not consumed by the cogenerator, with auto-producers competing on the market;

9. Notes that the effective dismantling of barriers to the development of cogeneration requires:

- cogenerators - whatever their consumption - to be in all cases considered qualified customers as electricity producing plants in the internal market for gas;

- access to European gas pipeline networks;

- district heating and cooling plans to be fostered;

- the purchasing - at market prices - of all electricity generated by auto-producers and not consumed by them;

- the internalization of environmental protection costs in all sources and forms of electricity generation, which entails compliance with the legislation in force on environmental pollution and increased obligations of public administrations with regard to monitoring the implementation of that legislation;

- support for research and technological development in the area of energy saving and efficiency;

10. Insists that Community measures geared to sustainable development should necessarily require improving the energy efficiency of processes and facilities, and requests concrete proposals from the Commission;

11. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure that Objective 1 regions can receive aid through the Structural Funds to increase energy efficiency, with priority being given to cogeneration facilities and renewable energies and especially their combination, and requests concrete proposals from the Commission;

12. Calls on the Commission to ensure that preference is given to funding cogeneration facilities for the production of heat and power, as well as renewable energies, and especially renewable cogeneration, when allocating cooperation funds with third countries in the area of energy, and requests concrete proposals from the Commission;

13. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure that electricity system operators, as a matter of priority, accept electricity produced in seawater desalination plants using combined electricity and steam cogeneration cycles; believes that the prices charged should be determined by competition on the electricity market and hence that the new electricity markets should operate under normal economic conditions;

14. Approves the conclusions submitted by the Commission:

15. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission and Council.