Brussels, 11/01/2007 (Agence Europe) - In the context of its package on energy and climate change (EUROPE 9341), the Commission published its report on Wednesday on implementing the directive on electricity generated from renewable energy sources (the so-called RES-electricity directive). Although, since the last report in 2004, the production of electricity of renewable origin has increased by 50%, the latest report reveals that the estimated total ERS-electricity share will be very slightly below the 21% target set in 2001, reaching 19% by 2010. The conclusions of the report stress how important it is that the RES-electricity directive should be fully and correctly implemented and that administrative barriers be immediately eliminated, as these are factors causing unequal access to the network and complex procedures. In 2007, the Commission will review the aid schemes for RES-electricity production and will propose a new legal framework for promoting renewable energy sources.
Among the various RES used for the production of electricity, there are: - wind power for which production capacities have increased 150% since 2001, making the Union the worldwide leader in this field with 60% of market share. Although the report notes that total wind energy in the Union now accounts for the equivalent of total electricity consumption in Denmark and Portugal, the report nonetheless deplores the fact that, in half of the Member States, this kind of RES is not sufficiently exploited due to delays in authorisation procedures, inequitable conditions of access to the network and the lengthy process for strengthening and extending the electricity network; - the development of solid biomass, for its part, gained considerable pace in 2004 and 2005 (electricity generated from solid biomass resulting from the combustion of forestry and agricultural products, as well as the waste from power plants). Finland and Sweden are the two largest producers of biomass energy, followed by Germany Spain, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Austria and the Netherlands. We recall, moreover, that the Commission suggested an action plan for forests last June, that also promotes the use of forestry resources as a raw material for energy production (EUROPE 9213); - biogas, which is not only used for producing energy but also meets environmental considerations of waste management, is also a major RES for the production of green energy. Nearly two-thirds of biogas are used to produce electricity, the remaining third being used for heat production. Biogas may also be used as a fuel for transport. Germany and the United Kingdom are leaders when it comes to the use of biogas; - solar energy is a promising energy source as it offers major long term possibilities. The total installed photovoltaic capacity of the Union has increased at a record average annual rate of 70% over the last five years, with Germany in the lead; - the development of hydraulic power plants of a maximum 10 MW capacity has slowed down for two reasons - the fact that potentials have been reached and that major administrative barriers exist (such as environmental authorisations). It is nonetheless in Slovenia and Poland that this sector has developed the most; - and the use of geothermal sources for the production of electricity is now widespread in Italy (95% of the Union's installed capacity), as well as in Portugal and France. (eh)