Joint Research Centre - European Commission

The JRC has published a study mapping the potential of renewable energy sources in Africa. The report analyses the continent's current energy consumption and assesses potential of renewable energy sources - solar, wind, biomass and hydropower - and their cost efficiency and environmental sustainability.

The map of Africa's solar electricity potential, for example, based on the JRC's Photovoltaic Geographical Information System (PVGIS), shows that in many parts of Africa the same photovoltaic panel could produce twice as much electricity as it would produce in Central Europe. However, in order to assess the suitability of solar energy to provide electricity in rural areas, this option has to be assessed against costs for grid extensions and with the traditional diesel generators.

A report published by the JRC shows that Member States intend to achieve the EU 2020 target of 20% energy coming from renewable sources. The report shows that, according to the National Renewable Energy Action Plans (NREAPs), Member States plan to reach an overall share of 20.7% of energy from renewable sources by 2020.

The JRC report is a technical assessment of the plans which Member States have submitted to the European Commission to provide detail on their national targets in renewable energy production and how they intend to reach them. The JRC's assessment shows that almost half of the Member States are planning to exceed their own targets and will therefore be able to provide surpluses for other Member States.

The JRC has contributed to the 2012 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) launched at World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos on 26 January 2012. The EPI is produced by researchers at Yale and Columbia Universities in collaboration with the World Economic Forum and the JRC.

With its expertise on composite indicators and sensitivity analysis, the JRC through its Institute for the Protection and Security of the Citizen (IPSC) contributed to the EPI by assessing the methodology and making recommendations on the balancing of the indicators.

An advanced radar system, developed by the JRC, is being used at the Giglio Island in Italy to support the Italian authorities in monitoring the movements of the cruise ship that grounded off Tuscany on 13^th January. Data on the ship movements have been of fundamental importance during the search and rescue operations and will remain crucial when the fuel is pumped off the ship's tanks.

The JRC system, called MELISSA, is an innovative and low-cost radar imaging system that allows for the detection of movements of objects with very high accuracy and resolution. The system is compact, portable and easily deployable and can work day and night under any weather conditions.

The JRC has published six vacant positions for researchers and scientific experts from the following countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Faroe Islands, Iceland, Israel, FYR of Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, Switzerland and Turkey. Applications will be accepted from experts from research organisations, public administration bodies, national enforcement laboratories and scientists.

The JRC has also proposed 32 activities including specialised workshops, advanced training courses and small projects within its areas of competence. The workshops are set up to allow competent organisations to study the scientific and technical methods and techniques underpinning EU policy implementation.