EC Forum Focuses on Greener Future for Fossil Fuels
October 9, 2007 // Published as a news service by IHS
The event brought together representatives of energy companies, member states and candidate countries, the European Commission (EC) and other interested stakeholders.
"I have no doubt that this year's plenary session will provide us with valuable input from stakeholders, which will subsequently help us shape our energy policy and find a place for fossil fuels in our fight against climate change," said Andris Piebalgs, EC energy commissioner.
Prior to the Berlin forum, the working parties met several times this year to discuss the key challenges for fossil fuels: sustainability and security of supply. The forum will now build on the outcome of these meetings to provide input for the EC's future energy actions.
Forum participants also discussed the EC's upcoming fossil fuels initiatives. The EC is preparing a set of measures to support the early demonstration and subsequent deployment of CO2 capture and storage (CCS) technologies in power generation from fossil fuels.
Since fossil fuels account for about half of the EU's electricity production as well as around 40% of its CO2 emissions, their future in the energy mix depends on a drastic reduction of their carbon footprint. CCS technologies represent a solution in this respect, provided national administrations and industry take the necessary measures to remove existing legal and economic barriers.
The EC is also preparing initiatives to strengthen the EU's security of supply regarding fossil fuels. Analyses of the current system of security oil stocks point to a number of weaknesses that could be removed in a future legislative proposal put forth by the EC. Input from stakeholders during the Berlin forum will be crucial for the success of such an initiative and for a similar initiative regarding Europe's security gas stocks.
The Fossil Fuels Forum is an EC initiative that aims to improve communication and the exchange of information on fossil fuels matters between the EC, member states, market stakeholders and energy experts. The third annual meeting was hosted by the EC in cooperation with the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology.
Source: European Commission.