WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2821/97 by Wolfgang KREISSL-DÖRFLER to the Commission. Photovoltaic energy/Full Cost Rate system
Date: 1997-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, KREISSL-DOERFLER
Subjects: Germany, approximation of laws, competitiveness, electrical energy, energy distribution, energy transport, price of energy, renewable energy, research and development, single market













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91997E2821

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2821/97 by Wolfgang KREISSL-DÖRFLER to the Commission. Photovoltaic energy/Full Cost Rate system  


Official Journal C 117 , 16/04/1998 P. 0071 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-2821/97 by Wolfgang Kreissl-Dörfler (V) to the Commission (1 September 1997)Subject: Photovoltaic energy/Full Cost Rate systemIn his answer on behalf of the Commission to Question E-1359/97 ((OJ C 21, 22.1.1998, p. 47. )) on 20 June 1997, Mr Papoutsis said the differences in cost between conventional and renewable energy were the main obstacle to the introduction of renewable energies into the market. These differences must be evened out. To this end, in a transitional phase, renewable energies need to be put on an equal footing with conventional energies by means of market aids. The best instrument for this is the Full Cost Rate system used in many towns in Germany for network access for electricity from renewable energies.1. From which German towns and which organizations has the Commission obtained reports of experience with Full Cost Rate systems, as called for by Parliament on 4 July 1996 in paragraph 19 of its resolution on a Community action plan for renewable energy sources (A4-0188/96) ((OJ C 211, 22.7.1996, p. 27. ))?2. What results have been achieved with Full Cost Rate systems?3. What is the Commission's assessment of these results?4. What rules does the Commission propose for payment for renewable energy input in order to speed up its introduction into the market?Answer given by Mr Papoutsis on behalf of the Commission (24 October 1997)As stated in its Green Paper on renewable energy sources ((Doc. COM(96) 576. )), the Commission is preparing a White Paper on a Community strategy for renewable energy sources extending to the year 2010, together with a plan of action.Against this background the Commission is contemplating a proposal on access to the supply grid for electricity generated by renewable energy sources, and on payment for this. However, systems other than that adopted by several German cities may be considered.With this in view the Commission is analysing the experiments conducted in the Member States in order, at the appropriate time, to draw up proposals at Community level.Concurrently with the proposal on network access the Commission is analysing the treatment of renewable energy sources as part of the transposition of Directive 96/92/EEC on the internal electricity market ((OJ L 27, 30.1.1997. )).In addition the Commission feels that the cost of renewable energy sources is not the only barrier to their market acceptance. It therefore intends to put forward measures to apply to differing areas such as standardisation, research, demonstration, dissemination, local and regional planning, taxation, institutional and commercial funding, promotion, information and training.The Commission feels that, in order to guarantee renewable energy sources a wider market in the medium and long term, the support for the development of these must be well targeted and consume little time in order to boost their use and competitiveness during the transitional stage referred to by the Honourable Member.Indeed, the cost may vary enormously as a function (a) of the technologies used and (b) of the specific conditions and in particular those such as location and infrastructure density.