Commission Decision of 21 December 2006 establishing harmonised efficiency reference values for separate production of electricity and heat in application of Directive 2004/8/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (notified under document number C(2006) 6817) (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2006-12-21
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: electrical energy, energy efficiency, energy policy, energy production, energy saving, thermal energy

6.2.2007

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 32/183

COMMISSION DECISION

of 21 December 2006

establishing harmonised efficiency reference values for separate production of electricity and heat in
application of Directive 2004/8/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council

(notified under document number C(2006) 6817)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2007/74/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

addition correction factors for heat grid losses are not
required as heat is always used near the site of production.

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Commu-
nity,

Having regard to Directive 2004/8/EC of
the European
Parliament and of the Council on the promotion of cogeneration
based on a useful heat demand in the internal energy market and
amending Directive 92/42/EC (1), and in particular Article 4(1)
thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

Pursuant to Article 4 of Directive 2004/8/EC the Commis-
sion is to establish harmonised efficiency reference values
for separate production of electricity and heat consisting of
a matrix of values differentiated by relevant
factors,
including year of construction and types of fuel.

The Commission has
completed a well-documented
analysis in accordance with Article 4(1) of Directive
2004/8/EC. Developments
in the best available and
economically justifiable technology which were observed
during the period covered by this analysis indicate that for
the harmonised efficiency reference values for separate
production of electricity, a distinction should be drawn
relating to the year of construction of a cogeneration unit.
Furthermore, correction factors relating to the climatic
situation should be applied to these reference values
because the thermodynamics of generating electricity from
fuel depend on the ambient
In addition
correction factors for avoided grid losses should be applied
to these reference values to take account of the energy
savings obtained when grid use is
to
decentralised production.

limited due

temperature.

(3)

By contrast,
the analysis showed that concerning the
harmonised efficiency reference values for separate produc-
tion of heat a distinction relating to the year of construction
was not necessary as the net energy efficiency of boilers has
hardly improved in the period covered by the analysis. No
correction factors relating to the climatic situation were
required because the thermodynamics of generating heat
from fuel do not depend on the ambient temperature. In

(4)

(5)

The harmonised efficiency reference values have been based
on the principles mentioned in Annex III (f) of Directive
2004/8/EC.

Stable conditions for
in cogeneration and
investment
continued investor confidence are needed. In this perspec-
tive it is appropriate to maintain the same reference values
for a cogeneration unit for a reasonably long period of ten
years. However, taking into consideration the main aim of
Directive 2004/8/EC to promote cogeneration in order to
save primary energy, an incentive for retrofitting older
cogeneration units should be given in order to improve
their energy efficiency. For these reasons the efficiency
reference values for electricity applicable to a cogeneration
unit should become stricter from the eleventh year after the
year of its construction.

(6)

The measures provided for
in this Decision are in
accordance with the opinion of the Cogeneration Commit-
tee,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Establishment of the harmonised efficiency reference
values

The harmonised efficiency reference values for separate produc-
tion of electricity and heat shall be as set out in Annex I and
Annex II respectively.

Article 2

Correction factors for the harmonised efficiency reference
values for separate production of electricity

1. Member States shall apply the correction factors set out in
Annex III(a) in order to adapt the harmonised efficiency reference
values set out in Annex I to the average climatic situation in each
Member State.

(1) OJ L 52, 21.2.2004, p. 50.

The correction factors for the average climatic situation shall not
apply to fuel cell-based cogeneration technology.

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Official Journal of the European Union

6.2.2007

If on the territory of a Member State official meteorological data
show differences in the annual ambient temperature of 5 oC or
more, that Member State may, subject to notification to the
Commission, use several climate zones for the purpose of the
first subparagraph using the method set out in Annex III(b).

2. Member States shall apply the correction factors set out in
Annex IV in order to adapt the harmonised efficiency reference
values set out in Annex I to avoided grid losses.

The correction factors for avoided grid losses shall not apply to
wood fuels and biogas.

3. Where Member States apply both the correction factors set
out in Annex III(a) and those set out in Annex IV, they shall apply
Annex III(a) before applying Annex IV.

Article 3

Application of the harmonised efficiency reference values

1. Member States
shall apply the harmonised efficiency
reference values set out in Annex I relating to the year of
construction of a cogeneration unit. These harmonised efficiency
reference values shall apply for 10 years from the year of
construction of a cogeneration unit.

From the eleventh year following the year of construction of
2.
a cogeneration unit, Member States shall apply the harmonised
efficiency reference values which by virtue of paragraph 1 apply
to a cogeneration unit of 10 years of age. These harmonised
efficiency reference values shall apply for one year.

For the purpose of this Article the year of construction of a
the first

3.
cogeneration unit shall mean the calendar year of
electricity production.

Article 4

Retrofitting of a cogeneration unit

If an existing cogeneration unit is retrofitted and the investment
cost for the retrofitting exceeds 50 % of the investment cost for a
new comparable cogeneration unit, the calendar year of first
electricity production of the retrofitted cogeneration unit shall be
considered as its year of construction for the purpose of Article
3.

Article 5

Fuel mix

the cogeneration unit

If
is operated with a fuel mix the
harmonised efficiency reference values for separate production
shall be applied proportionally to the weighted mean of the
energy input of the various fuels.

Article 6

Addressees

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 21 December 2006.

For the Commission

Andris PIEBALGS

Member of the Commission

6.2.2007

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 32/185

Harmonised efficiency reference values for separate production of electricity (referred to in Article 1)

ANNEX I

In the table below the harmonised efficiency reference values for separate production of electricity are based on net calorific
value and standard ISO conditions (15 oC ambient temperature, 1,013 bar, 60 % relative humidity).

Year of construction:
Type of fuel:

1996
and
before

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

Hard coal/coke

39,7

40,5

41,2

41,8

42,3

42,7

43,1

43,5

43,8

44,0

Lignite/lignite briquettes

37,3

38,1

38,8

39,4

39,9

40,3

40,7

41,1

41,4

41,6

Peat/peat briquettes

Wood fuels

36,5

36,9

37,2

37,5

37,8

38,1

38,4

38,6

38,8

38,9

25,0

26,3

27,5

28,5

29,6

30,4

31,1

31,7

32,2

32,6

Agricultural biomass

20,0

21,0

21,6

22,1

22,6

23,1

23,5

24,0

24,4

24,7

Biodegradable (municipal) waste

20,0

21,0

21,6

22,1

22,6

23,1

23,5

24,0

24,4

24,7

Non-renewable (municipal and industrial)
waste

20,0

21,0

21,6

22,1

22,6

23,1

23,5

24,0

24,4

24,7

Oil shale

38,9

38,9

38,9

38,9

38,9

38,9

38,9

38,9

38,9

38,9

Oil (gas oil + residual fuel oil), LPG

39,7

40,5

41,2

41,8

42,3

42,7

43,1

43,5

43,8

44,0

Biofuels

Biodegradable waste

Non-renewable waste

39,7

40,5

41,2

41,8

42,3

42,7

43,1

43,5

43,8

44,0

20,0

21,0

21,6

22,1

22,6

23,1

23,5

24,0

24,4

24,7

20,0

21,0

21,6

22,1

22,6

23,1

23,5

24,0

24,4

24,7

25,0

Natural gas

50,0

50,4

50,8

51,1

51,4

51,7

51,9

52,1

52,3

52,4

Refinery gas/hydrogen

39,7

40,5

41,2

41,8

42,3

42,7

43,1

43,5

43,8

44,0

Biogas

36,7

37,5

38,3

39,0

39,6

40,1

40,6

41,0

41,4

41,7

52,5

44,2

42,0

Coke oven gas, blast furnace gas, other
waste gases, recovered waste heat

35

35

35

35

35

35

35

35

35

35

35

%

2006-
2011

44,2

41,8

39,0

33,0

25,0

25,0

25,0

39,0

44,2

44,2

25,0

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L 32/186

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Official Journal of the European Union

6.2.2007

Harmonised efficiency reference values for separate production of heat (referred to in Article 1)

ANNEX II

In the table below the harmonised efficiency reference values for separate production of heat are based on net calorific value
and standard ISO conditions (15 oC ambient temperature, 1,013 bar, 60 % relative humidity).

Type of fuel:

Steam (*) /hot water

%

Direct use of exhaust
gases (**)

Solid

Liquid

Hard coal/coke

Lignite/lignite briquettes

Peat/peat briquettes

Wood fuels

Agricultural biomass

Biodegradable (municipal) waste

Non-renewable (municipal and industrial)
waste

Oil shale

Oil (gas oil + residual fuel oil), LPG

Biofuels

Biodegradable waste

Non-renewable waste

Natural gas

Refinery gas/hydrogen

Gaseous

Biogas

Coke oven gas, blast furnace gas + other
waste gases

88

86

86

86

80

80

80

86

89

89

80

80

90

89

70

80

80

78

78

78

72

72

72

78

81

81

72

72

82

81

62

72

(*)

Il faut retrancher 5 points de pourcentage absolus au rendement vapeur lorsque les États membres qui appliquent l'article 12,
paragraphe 2, de la directive 2004/8/CE prennent en compte le retour du condensat dans les calculs de rendement d'une unité de
cogénération.

(**) Les valeurs applicables à la chaleur directe doivent être utilisées si la température est de 250 oC ou plus.

6.2.2007

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Official Journal of the European Union

L 32/187

ANNEX III

Correction factors relating to the average climatic situation and method for establishing climate zones for the
application of the harmonised efficiency reference values for separate production of electricity (referred to in
Article 2(1))

(a)

Correction factors relating to the average climatic situation

Ambient temperature correction is based on the difference between the annual average temperature in a Member State
and standard ISO conditions (15 oC). The correction will be as follows:

0,1 %-point efficiency loss for every degree above 15 oC;

0,1 %-point efficiency gain for every degree under 15 oC.

Example:

When the average annual temperature in a Member State is 10 oC, the reference value of a cogeneration unit in that
Member State has to be increased with 0,5 %-points.

(b) Method for establishing climate zones

The borders of each climate zone will be constituted by isotherms (in full degrees Celsius) of the annual average
ambient temperature which differ at least 4 oC.The temperature difference between the average annual ambient
temperatures applied in adjacent climate zones will be at least 4 oC.

Example:

In a Member State the average annual ambient temperature in place A is 12 oC and in place B it is 6 oC. The difference
is more than 5 oC. The Member State has now the option to introduce two climate zones separated by the isotherm of
9 oC, thus constituting one climate zone between the isotherms of 9 oC and 13 oC with an average annual ambient
temperature of 11 oC and another climate zone between the isotherms of 5 oC and 9 oC with an average annual
ambient temperature of 7 oC.

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Official Journal of the European Union

6.2.2007

Correction factors for avoided grid losses for the application of the harmonised efficiency reference values for
separate production of electricity (referred to in Article 2(2))

ANNEX IV

Voltage:

> 200 kV

100-200 kV

50-100 kV

0,4-50 kV

< 0,4 kV

Example:

For electricity exported to the grid

For electricity consumed on-site

1

0,985

0,965

0,945

0,925

0,985

0,965

0,945

0,925

0,860

A 100 kWel cogeneration unit with a reciprocating engine driven with natural gas generates electricity of 380 V. Of this
electricity 85 % is used for own consumption and 15 % is fed into the grid. The plant was constructed in 1999. The annual
ambient temperature is 15 oC (so no climatic correction is necessary).

According to Annex I of this Decision the harmonised efficiency reference value of 1999 for natural gas is 51,1 %. After the
grid loss correction the resulting efficiency reference value for the separate production of electricity in this cogeneration unit
would be (based on the weighted mean of the factors in this Annex):

Ref Eη = 51,1 % * (0,860 * 85 % + 0,925 * 15 %) = 44,4 %