European Union Targets Green Energy Expansion

HOUSTON — April 15, 2002

The European Union is targeting a doubling of energy production from renewable resources from 6% to 12% by 2010. Concurrently, it will raise renewable electricity from 14% to 22% of total electrical power production. The European Union (EU) is looking to back this drive up with $1.5 billion for research into renewable energy integration over the period 2002 to 2006. This research will need assistance from industry, public information campaigns, and changes in the regulatory and fiscal environments.

The commitment of some European countries to the various renewable energy options available is demonstrated by the fact that European wind generated power accounts for 75% of the world total from that alternate source.

In 1999 France, with heavy investment in nuclear power, generated only 22 mega-watts (MW) of wind energy against Germany’s 4,445 MW and Denmark’s 1,742 MW.

In the same year, 674,000 square meters of thermal solar energy collectors had been installed in France, 3.1 million square meters in Germany, and 2.65 million square meters in Greece. Only 10 MW of photovoltaic power was generated in France, while Germany produced 66 MW and Italy 18.6 MW.

Now, an EU draft directive sets France with a target of generating 21% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2010, which is an increase of 6% from the current 15%. This implies a projected windpower output of 14,000 MW from France. The development of photovoltaic energy is currently fraught with interstate pricing anomalies.

(This is an advisory by Industrialinfo.com; Houston, TX).