Brussels, 08/01/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 8 January the European Commission published a Eurobarometer opinion survey on energy technologies. 60% of EU citizens think that energy research should be a priority for the European Union. 54% think that reducing energy consumption should be a priority. Europeans are particularly concerned by energy price hikes: 76% consider energy prices will double in the next 3 years.
The Commission has also released today the WETO-H2 study. This research study, carried out by scientists in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, UK and Poland, as well as the Commission's DG Joint Research Centre, identifies a reference projection of the world energy system in 2050 (world energy consumption doubles by 2050°) and looks at two varying scenarios: a carbon-constraint case and a hydrogen case. In the reference case, Both scenarios, which show a rising role for renewable and nuclear energy in Europe's future, rely on advances in technologies such as carbon capture & storage, low energy buildings, low emission cars and hydrogen production from renewable and nuclear sources. The report is available at: (http: //ec.europa.eu/research/energy). (oj)