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Catalogue |
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RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES FOR EUROPE
THE CAMPAIGN FOR TAKE-OFF |
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In November 2000 the
European commission adopted the Green Paper "Towards a
European Strategy for the Security of Supply". The
Green Paper sketches out the bare bones of a long-term energy
strategy, according to which the Union must balance its
supply policy by clear action in favour of a demand policy
and further support to renewable energy sources in order to
reach the objectives, endorsed by the European Parliament and
the Council of Ministers, of the White Paper for a
Community Strategy and Action Plan, "Energy for the
Future: Renewable Sources of Energy" adopted by the
European Commission in December 1997. Those objectives
include an indicative target of 12 % for the
contribution of renewable energy sources (hence, RES)
to the European Union's gross inland energy consumption
by 2010. Accelerating the penetration of RES will play a
major role in achieving the Community's international
commitment to CO2 reduction, while at the same time helping
to reduce dependence on (fossil) energy imports and offering
business opportunities for the European Union's industry.
The
comprehensive Action Plan set out in the White Paper
includes a Campaign for Take-Off designed to kick-start
investment in renewable energy in key sectors and
underpin credibility by achieving substantial new
investment by 2003. The necessary trend towards
increased private investment in RES will be stimulated
in a visible manner through public relations activities,
focusing public support programmes on the targets of
the Campaign, and raising public awareness of the vital
role of renewable energies and of the progress actually
being achieved.
The Campaign for Take-Off will
run for four years (2000-2003) and will act as a
catalyst for the development of key RES sectors,
sending clear signals for greater use of RES and
encouraging investment. The objectives for the key
sectors are:
- 1,000,000 PV systems.
- 15 Million m2 solar collectors.
- 10,000 MW of wind turbine generators
- 1,000,000 dwelling heated by biomass10,000 MWth of combined heat and power biomass installations.
- 1,000 MW of biogas installations.
- 5 Million tonnes of liquid biofuels.
- 100 communities aimed at 100 % RES supply.
Focusing on key sectors, the Campaign for
Take-Off sets out a framework for action to highlight
investment opportunities, and attract the necessary
private funding which is expected to make up the lion's
share of the capital required. The Campaign seeks to
encourage public spending to focus on the key sectors,
and, in the process, to complement and trigger private
investment. It also comprises two schemes aimed at
giving prominence to RE development plans and
encouraging co-operation between committed actors to
push on with their realisation. These are 'Renewable
Energy Partnerships' and '100 Communities aiming at
100% Renewable Energy Supply'.
The publication of
an annual catalogue, which summarises programmes and
projects joining the Campaign and documents the results
obtained, the launch and regular update of a web site
dedicated to Renewable Energy Partnerships (http://europa.eu.int/comm/energy/en/renewable/idae_site/index.html)
and the periodical distribution of a CD Rom version of
the site constitute key tools for the promotion of the
Campaign and its partnerships to a wider public from
industry to citizens and public authorities. |
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