Strasbourg, 13/05/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament has introduced a large number of amendments to the draft directive on promoting co-generation in the EU. Bu adopting the report of Norbert Glante (PES, Germany), Parliament is proposing: a definition and calculating method that is "clearer" for co-generation, a more ambitious calendar, as well as listed Community and national objectives for electricity from co-generation. The Energy Council on Wednesday is expected to adopt a political agreement on the proposal.
Parliament's amendments propose: 1) a harmonised definition of co-generation, referring uniquely to the heat used and the electricity from the combined production process. Parliament also believes that "there is no room for envisaging sue of other definitions of co-generation" if a harmonised definition exists; 2) a new calculating method of electricity from harmonised co-generation (detailed in Annex II a); 3) a methodology for determining the output from co-generation based on harmonised reference values and no longer based on national values in order to avoid competition distortion. In order to determine energy economies and CO2 emission reductions by the different units and co-generation installations and for allowing for comparisons, the Parliament is requesting that the Commission sets reference values for the two years after entry into force of the directive. (4) a more ambitious timetable, mainly for setting up systems to guarantee the origin of electricity generated by cogeneration (one year after enforcement of the directive instead of two years) and the designation of bodies responsible for supervising questions relating to guarantees of origin (18 months after the directive takes effect instead of two years); (5) Community and national goals with target figures: by 2012, electricity production by cogeneration should account for at least 18% of total electricity production recorded in the EU and at national level; and (6) the Commission should present a new proposal of directive establishing a support system for electricity produced from cogeneration.