WRITTEN QUESTION E-2544/01

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 September 2001)

Subject: Promotion of the use of wind energy

The EU often proclaims its intention to promote the use of environmentally friendly forms of energy, such as wind power. As part of this policy, several wind parks have been created, particularly in countries with high wind power potential such as Greece. However, many of the generators in the wind parks have been taken out of operation, leaving them inactive and presenting a rather depressing sight in areas which do not have other energy resources such as Skyros, Ikaria, Evvia, Crete etc.

Can the Commission say whether it knows how many of the generators which it has helped to fund, constructed in wind parks in Greece, are currently operating? How many of them have been taken out of operation? What are the exact amounts which the EU has allocated for the construction of wind generators in Greece? Which bodies have these amounts been given to?

Has the Commission investigated the reasons for these generators' high failure rate? What initiatives has the Directorate-General for Research taken for the promotion of this environmentally friendly form of energy, and what provisions have been made in the new programme which has replaced the Fifth Framework Programme to ensure that there are sufficient resources permanently available and to prevent a repetition of unwelcome developments such as the cutback of appropriations in the Preliminary Draft Budget for 2002 for environmentally friendly nuclear fusion?

Supplementary answergiven by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(5 December 2001)

The Commission has been supporting wind energy projects through three Directorate Generals

Directorate General for Research has funded more than 130 wind energy projects in Europe in the course of the 3rd, 4th and 5th Framework Programme for Research & Technological Development and Demonstration Activities (RTD). These projects dealt with basic and applied research aiming to make wind energy a reliable option for energy supply by improving the quality and service life time of wind turbine components and reduce the costs of wind power generation.

Only in a few cases these Research and Development (R & D) projects did include the erection of a complete wind turbine and if so normally on an experimental basis in view of prolonged testing of the innovative features. Only one significant project combining wind energy (0.5 Megawatt (MW)) and desalination has been installed recently in Greece, but it is still not operational.

Directorate General for Energy and Transport, has since 1983 supported 264 wind energy projects in Europe, in the framework of the Demonstration (1983-1989) and Thermie (1990-1994) energy support programmes, as well as of the 4th (1995-1998) and 5th (1999-2002) Framework Programmes for RTD. These projects were aimed at the development, the pre-commercial demonstration and dissemination of the use of innovative wind turbine projects, many of which involved prototype machines. During the past 18 years, 13 of such projects have been installed in Greece, six out of which wind turbines are currently not operational, while one was decommissioned.

The above projects were primarily aimed at the testing and dissemination of innovative techniques, concept materials and equipments, all but one concerned single unit installations, implemented during the 80's when the wind energy technology was still in its first stages of development and consequently were projects of high technical and financial risk. Despite some failures, which were also used as a valuable feedback, programmes assisted and accelerated the development of reliable and efficient wind turbines and the subsequent boost of wind energy installations in Europe. Most of wind turbines currently available in the market, have been supported in their research, development or demonstration stage by one of the energy support programmes of the Commission.

Directorate General for Regional Policy have been co-financing wind generators/farms in Greece using the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) since 1990, through the following interventions: 1) Hors-quota Energy, 2) Integrated Mediterranean Programme (IMP), 3) Valoren (Community Initiative) and 4) Operational Programme (OP) Energy (CSF II, 1994-99). The first three interventions co-financed 21 projects by 1994. Since 1994, the ongoing OP Energy co-finances 16 wind generator/farm projects. Following the submission of final reports of the above interventions by Greek authorities, the Commission is not aware of any problems in the operation of these wind generators; the exception being two projects within Valoren, one in South Evia and one in Crete, which had temporary technical problems. These problems were finally resolved and the machines are in operation again today. In addition, the Commission is aware of three relatively old, small size wind turbines, also supported by the Valoren programme, in remote sites which are currently not operational.

Bodies responsible in Greece for the wind generator projects co-financed by the Commission were DEH (PPC), OTE (Greek Telecom), local development companies, local authorities, and more recently private investors.

The total installed wind capacity in Greece is estimated to exceed 254 MW, out of which about 152 MW co-financed by the Commission programmes. The 11 known non-operational wind turbines represent a total capacity of only 1,7 MW or 0,68 % of the installed capacity. Whilst this is regrettable, it can not be considered as high failure rate especially in view of the overall objective of the RTD projects to develop innovative technologies which must always include an element of risk.

There is an obligation for periodical reporting to the Commission on the operational results of the supported projects, but this ends with the completion of the contractual period. The Commission services always appreciate receiving relevant information concerning the subsequent operation of renewable energy projects in its Member States.

In the Commission's proposal for the new Framework Programme(1) for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration Activities (RTD) (2002-2006) and the subsequent Specific Programme(2), presently under consideration (in the co-decision procedure) by the Parliament and Council, funding of RTD on renewable energy sources (including wind energy) is being foreseen under the priority thematic area of Sustainable Development and Global Change. In the short and medium-term, Community's efforts will concentrate on tilting the actual energy balance towards a more sustainable energy systems, which combine heat and power as well as new and renewable energy sources, and increasing the share of renewable energy systems from 6 % to 12 % by 2010. Research will focus on increased cost-efficiency and reliability of main new and renewable sources and the combination with conventional generation. In the longer term, the objective in this field is to develop renewable energy sources which are intrinsically clean and which can be well integrated into a sustainable energy supply mix, for both stationary and transport applications.

Under the new Framework Programme proposal, RTD on renewable energy sources may also be included in activities for supporting Union policies and for strengthening it's European Research Area through the co-ordination of Community and Member State activities. It is expected that Community research can be instrumental by bringing together leading actors and thereby helping to strengthen Europe's position in the international competition.

(1) OJ C 180 E, 26.6.2001.

(2) OJ C 240 E, 28.8.2001.