"Furthermore, considerable attention has been drawn to their potential for mitigating climate change", Mr. Mandil added. He pointed out that in 2005, IEA Ministers had called for a clean, clever, and competitive energy future, and stated that renewable energy technologies as part of a balanced energy mix will need to play a significant role in this future.

Source: IEA.

Targeted renewables RD&D to be increased

"We need to use public funds as effectively as possible in achieving this", Mr. Mandil said. "Countries must improve their market deployment strategies for renewable energy technologies and above all, increase targeted renewables RD&D - simultaneously ensuring continued cost-competitiveness. There is much at stake", he added.

The publication recommends priorities for this important effort, drawing on studies, analyses and technology programmes carried out by the IEA technology network. It also reviews the trends in government RD&D spending and lists RD&D policies in IEA member countries. Among renewable energy technologies, the shares in global funding of biomass, solar photovoltaic and wind have increased, while those of ocean, geothermal and concentrating solar power have declined. The United States, Japan and Germany are the biggest total spenders on energy technology RD&D, although Switzerland, Denmark and the Netherlands are the leaders on a spending per capita basis.

A summary of the report is available to download at the IEA website: http://www.iea.org/Textbase/Papers/2006/renewable_factsheet.pdf.

IEA (02/22/2006)

Initiative Report on RES Heating: Now the Commission has to act

On February 14th 2006 the European Parliament adopted with broad majority the Initiative Report on Renewable Heating and Cooling. The report calls on the European Commission to present a Directive Proposal for the promotion of renewable heating and cooling, in order to substantially contribute to "securing European energy supplies and to significantly reduce Europe's dependence on oil and gas in particular". EREC welcomes the vote in the Parliament on this important report. EREC’s Policy Director Oliver Schäfer: “We are glad that the Parliament took the initiative in this important field. We are now awaiting a concrete legislative proposal within this yea, as was announced by Commissioner.”

Coherent legislative action is needed

Europe claims to be at the forefront of renewable energy development worldwide, which is true. But looking at the facts Europe is only at the forefront of developing renewable electricity markets so far. This is a good and important start, but it is simply not enough. In order to develop the full potential of renewables, clear and coherent legislative action is needed in the field of renewable heating and cooling as well.

Effective targets for the share of renewable heating and cooling

Nearly half of the European energy consumption is needed in the heating sector, but there is not yet one piece of legislation on European level in place that aims to increase the share of renewable heating and cooling production.
The report calls for effective targets for the share of renewables for heating and cooling in order to at least double the share by 2020. Schäfer adds: "Effective targets should be binding targets for the Member States. Unfortunately the Parliament was not brave enough to clarify this, but in fact this report is great news."

General principles for the support schemes to be adopted by the Member States

The report does not suggest a harmonisation of support schemes at EU level; it proposes to agree on general principles for the support schemes to be adopted and implemented by the Member States and on a menu of suggested instruments, like tax breaks, financial incentives or regulatory measures. It also proposes measures to reduce the administrative barriers to the use of renewable heating and cooling.
EREC’s position paper on renewables heating and cooling: "Joint Declaration for a European Directive to Promote Renewable Heating and Cooling" and more information are to be found at http://erec-renewables.org.

EREC (02/15/2006)