EU Policy News

The meeting of Energy ministers in Denmark on Friday 20 April 2012 concluded by reaching an agreement on the approach recommended by the European Commission in its energy roadmap to 2050. Europe’s energy future will involve higher efficiency, more renewables and infrastructure upgrades, they said.
The ministers backed the roadmap’s ‘no regret’ options, which the commission says would apply to all decarbonisation scenarios envisaged in the document, regardless of the choices made by member states.

On April 19 the EU Parliament adopted the report of Luxemburg’s MEP Astrid Lulling (EPP), and Swedish shadow Rapporteur, Olle Ludvigson (S&D)

MEPs will today vote  on the proposal for revision of the 2003 Energy Taxation Directive (ETD) following a report by Astrid Lulling (EPP, Luxembourg) in Strasbourg last night. The revision marks the introduction of CO 2 in the taxation of energy products and electricity and the end of the special status given to diesel fuel and unleaded petrol.   The proposal, presented by the European Commission in 2011, constitutes the response to the EU summit’s 2008 request to align the European Union’s energy and climate change objectives. Under the revision, taxation would be based not only on energy content but also on the CO 2 content of energy products, and would include a minimum level for CO 2. Member states will therefore have to make a clear distinction between the two components: taxation of CO 2 and taxation of the energy source. The text also provides for abolishing the reductions granted for diesel fuel for professional use as well as the preferential price for unleaded petrol. More generally, it does away with the existing distinction between commercial and private use of energy products to produce heat and electricity. While maintaining a degree of flexibility, including the possibility for member states to levy more than one tax on energy consumption, [...]

“Energising Development”: Commission’s new initiative to help achieve energy access for all by 2030

The new TEN T Guidelines also include important  references to the need for infrastructure for alternative fuels.

  The Council reached a general approach on new guidelines defining a long-term strategy for the development of a complete trans-European transport network (TEN-T), consisting of infrastructure for railways, maritime and air transport, roads and inland waterways. The general approach will be the basis for the discussions between the Council and the European Parliament, whose approval is also required for the adoption of the guidelines and which has not yet determined its position at first reading. Following a discussion of the outstanding issues, the majority of delegations, in the spirit of compromise, could accept the general approach as set out in the presidency’s proposal with a few changes. A recital will be added to stress that the Commission take into account national implementation plans and future enlargement when reviewing the implementation of the core network in 2023. The definition of “projects of common interest” has been slightly modified so as to cover any project complying with the requirements for the comprehensive or the core network. The maps  setting out the transport arteries of the comprehensive and core networks have been modified as concerns Italy, Poland and Romania. However, some member states, while not opposing the text, would have wished further [...]

At the One Europe One Grid conference a joint declaration was signed between Climate Parlement, Desertec. MedGrid, Renewables Grid Initiatives and Friends of the SuperGrid

The European Think Tank Bruegel launched a study sponsored by the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking FCH JU, entitled “Public Support for the Energy and Transport System Transition”on February 2, 2012, calling for the integration of transport in Europe’s Emission Trading System to ensure the rapid commercialisation of  new technologies like fuel cell powered vehicles.
“To enable the private sector to make the necessary investments for development and deployment of the technologies needed for the energy and transport system transition, a set of smart policies needs to be implemented.” 

EU seeks to limit authorisation procedures for new transmission grid projects to reinforce Europe’s electricity networks. 

The European Commission’s Trans-European Transport Networks TEN-T Programme is one of the most important Community financing means for European transport infrastructure projects — equalling €8 billion for 2007–2013.
January 10th 2012 the call was officially opened for proposals until 13 APRIL 2012.

The Public Information day is scheduled for 31 January in Brussels. For more information on the event and the TEN-T Call see: TEN-T Webpage

The call can serve as a good basis for proposal for deployment of hydrogen infrastructure projects.