EC Takes EU Countries to Court Over Cogeneration Directive Violations

November 24, 2009 // Published as a news service by IHS

The directive aims at promoting the use of combined heat and power, with a view to saving primary energy, avoiding network losses and reducing greenhouse gases.

Cogeneration is a technology of simultaneous power and heat generation that presents a substantial potential for increased energy efficiency and reduced environmental impact; it is considered to be a priority area for many European Union (EU) member states.

Conventional power plants emit the heat created as a by-product of electricity generation into the environment through cooling towers, flue gas or by other means. Simultaneous production of heat and power captures the by-product heat for domestic or industrial heating purposes.

The cogeneration directive provides a framework for the promotion of this technology in order to overcome remaining barriers, advance its penetration in energy markets and help harness its untapped potential. The directive urges EU member states to carry out analyses of their potential for high-efficiency cogeneration.

The EU has committed itself to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20% as compared to 1990 levels and to reduce by 20% EU energy consumption through improved energy efficiency by 2020. Cogeneration is considered to be an important instrument to achieve these objectives.

The four member states involved now have two months to take the necessary measures to comply with the EC's reasoned opinion, which is is the second step in the infringement procedure. After that, the EC can decide to bring the case before the European Court of Justice.

Source: European Commission (EC).