WRITTEN QUESTION E-2544/01 by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Promotion of the use of wind energy.
Date: 2001-09-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, EU programme, Greece, agricultural holding, applied research, electrical energy, research policy, sustainable development, technological change, wind energy

6.6.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 134 E/43

On the issue of electricity supply networks, the Council would remind the Honourable Member that the
strengthening of electricity links between Greece and, respectively, Albania, Bulgaria and the former
Yugoslavia, including the reconstruction of links with the northern part of the former Yugoslavia and the
UCPTE network, forms part of the projects of common interest as designated in Decision 1254/96/EC
(amended by Decision 1741/1999/EC)
laying down a series of guidelines for trans-European energy
networks.

Also, Regulation (EC) No 2236/95, as amended by Regulation (EC) No 1655/1999, lays down general rules
for the granting of Community financial aid in the field of
trans-European networks. Article 15(2)
stipulates that ‘the Commission and the Member States concerned shall systematically monitor progress
with projects, where appropriate with the cooperation of
the European Investment Bank or other
appropriate bodies’.

The Honourable Member is invited to contact the participants mentioned above in order to ascertain the
current situation.

The Council would stress that it has no competence to answer the point raised in the last part of the
Honourable Member’s question.

(2002/C 134 E/046)

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 answer
given 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.

C 134 E/44

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.6.2002

Only in a few cases these Research and Development (R & D) projects did include the erection of a
complete wind turbine and A if so A 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
the
problems were finally resolved and the machines are in operation again today.
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.

In addition,

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.

for the new Framework Programme (1)

for Research, Technological
In the Commission’s proposal
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.

6.6.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 134 E/45

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.

(2002/C 134 E/047)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2548/01

by Laura González Álvarez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(19 September 2001)

Subject: Restructuring of the banks of the river Duero in Zamora (Spain)

Zamora council is planning a series of projects in the city affecting the river Duero and its islands. Some of
those projects, such as reforestation, cleaning up and improving the banks and the creation of Las Pallas
park, may have a positive effect. Nevertheless, activities on Bañaderos and Conejos island and the planned
real-estate development in the Las Pallas park area,
including three car-parks, will have a tremendous
impact on the environment and will affect protection areas for birds and the conservation of natural
habitats.

This might be in breach of the following Community directives:

A Directive 85/337/EEC (1) on environmental impact assessment;

A Directive 79/409/EEC (2) on the conservation of wild birds;

A Directive 92/43/EEC (3) on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora.

Can the Commission check whether these directives are being properly applied?

Can the Commission confirm whether Community funding has been granted for these projects?

(1) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985, p. 40.
(2) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979, p. 1.
(3) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(12 November 2001)

The Honourable Member mentions three environmental directives which could, in her view, apply to the
context of the project concerning the restructuring of the banks of River Duero in Zamora, Spain, and asks
the Commission what measures it intends to take to ensure that Community law is complied with in this
case.

The Directives mentioned by the Honourable Member are Council Directive 79/409/EEC, of 2 April 1979,
on the protection of wild birds, Council Directive 92/43/EEC, of 21 may 1992, on the conservation of
natural habitats and wild fauna and flora, and Council Directive 85/337/EEC, of 27 June 1985, on the
assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment.

With regard to Council Directives 79/409/EEC and 92/43/EEC, the Commission considers that they are not
relevant in this case since no Special Protected Areas, Sites of Community Interest, protected species or
priority habitats have been identified within the city of Zamora, where the project is to be implemented.
No such areas, sites, species or habitats are therefore likely to be affected by the project.