Cogeneration of heat and power
Existing cogeneration systems use various technologies. The produced heat is available in different forms and at different temperatures. Energy conversion efficiency varies considerably among these different systems. CHP plants operate using a variety of technologies, gas turbines, fuel cells, Stirling engines, gas or diesel engines and combined cycle gas turbines. Natural gas is the most common primary energy fuel, but renewable energy sources and waste can also be used. Unlike traditional power stations where waste heat is dissipated in cooling towers, river or sea water or radiators, the heat is dissipated instead in the desired processes.
'Materials Roadmap Enabling Low-Carbon Energy Technologies' published Jan 03, 2012
Materials are at the core of industrial innovation and enable it. The materials presented in this new Roadmap complement and expand the technology roadmaps developed in the context of the SET-Plan as the basis for its implementation. It puts forward key materials research and innovation activities to advance energy technologies for the next 10 years.
Horizon 2020: in tandem with SET-Plan to achieve 2020 targets Dec 13, 2011
Earlier this month Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn announced Horizon 2020, an EUR 80 billion programme to help achieve Europe's 2020 targets, which includes a package of measures to boost research, innovation and competitiveness in Europe.
2011 Technology Map of the SET-Plan now available Dec 08, 2011
The third edition of the Technology Map, i.e. the 2011 update, addresses 20 different technologies, covering the whole spectrum of the energy system, including both supply and demand technologies.
SET-Plan Conference 2011:the future of energy depends on research and financing Nov 30, 2011
The Warsaw conference on the European Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET-Plan) began on 28th November - the same day as the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Durban, South Africa, at which representatives of the world’s largest economies are discussing the future of limiting the world emission of carbon dioxide.
Renewable Energy Snapshots 2011 - a report by the JRC Institute for Energy & Transport Nov 17, 2011
The 'Renewable Energy Snapshots' are based on various data providers, including grey data sources, and try to give an overview about the latest developments and trends in different renewable energy technologies.
European Commission Roadmap to Resource Efficiency published Oct 14, 2011
Last month the European Commission published its ‘Roadmap to a Resource Efficient Europe’. The Roadmap contains a series of medium- (2020) and long-term (2050) resource efficiency objectives as well as the means needed for achieving them, including targets by 2013 and milestones for 2020.
Download the SETIS brochure - new in the Library Jul 25, 2011
What is SETIS? How does SETIS support the SET-Plan? Download the new informational brochure (available in English, Dutch and Italian), which looks at how SETIS provides information for decision-making by monitoring progress of the SET-Plan.
ATEsT online newsletters Jul 12, 2011
ATEsT (Analysing Transition Planning and Systemic Energy Planning Tools for the implementation of the Energy Technology Information System) brings together EU competence on a transition towards a low-carbon energy system through energy innovation, energy modelling activities and technology assessment.
New report: ‘Cogeneration 2050: the role of cogeneration in a European decarbonised energy system’ Jul 11, 2011
In its new report, ‘Cogeneration 2050: the role of cogeneration in a European decarbonised energy system’, COGEN Europe asks the question: “What can cogeneration contribute in 2050?”
New European Energy Efficiency Fund launched Jul 05, 2011
On 1st July 2011, the Commission launched a new European Energy Efficiency Fund (EEE-F) as part of the European Energy Programme for Recovery (EEPR).
New IEA report on Cogeneration and Renewables, an energy efficient supply of low-carbon heat and electricity Jun 22, 2011
A new IEA report describes how cogeneration is attractive to policy-makers, private users and investors because it delivers a range of energy, environmental and economic benefits.
European Commission adopts Energy Efficiency Plan 2011 Mar 31, 2011
On 8th March 2011, the EC adopted its Communication, "Energy Efficiency Plan 2011", which puts energy efficiency at the heart of the Europe 2020 Strategy for what it calls “smart, sustainable and inclusive growth and the transition to a resource efficient economy.”
EESC calls for a common EU external policy on energy Mar 31, 2011
In a communiqué issued on 18th March 2011, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) calls on the European Union to consider the security of its energy supply as one of the priorities of its external policy. The recommendation is one of the results of an Opinion on energy supply and neighbourhood policy commissioned by the current Hungarian EU presidency.
EESC Conference on Energy Security Mar 31, 2011
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is holding a conference in Pécs (Hungary) on 29th April 2011 on how EU energy policy can ensure security of supply and how we can strengthen the external dimension of EU energy policy.
Renewable Energy Targets: Commission calls on Member States to boost cooperation Mar 14, 2011
The European Commission presented on 31 January 2011 its communication "Renewable Energy: Progressing towards the 2020 target". The communication shows that the 2020 renewable energy policy goals are likely to be met - and exceeded - if Member States fully implement their national renewable energy action plans and if financing instruments are improved.
European Council’s First Energy summit ‘a breakthrough’ Feb 21, 2011
According to EC Commissioner for Energy, Günther Oettinger, the European Council’s first Summit on energy in Brussels on 4th February 2011 was “a breakthrough for European energy policy.” The Summit, he added, would be “a benchmark for the years to come.”
EU Member States collectively forecast to exceed 20% target for renewable energy sources Jan 26, 2011
According to the European Renewable Energy Council (EREC), 25 out of the 27 National Renewable Energy Action Plans submitted to the European Commission expect to reach or exceed their 2020 targets domestically.
Successful Belgian Presidency conference on the European Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET-Plan) Nov 18, 2010
The Belgian presidency and the European Commission organised the European Strategic Energy Technology Plan Conference 2010. More than 500 stakeholders from industry and research institutes and European and national policymakers from across Europe gathered in Brussels for the fourth edition of the SET-Plan conference. The main objectives were the launch of the next two European Industrial Initiatives: Bioenergy and Sustainable Nuclear Energy, and the kick-off of the international cooperation dimension within the SET-Plan.
European Commission releases new report on energy trends to 2030 Nov 04, 2010
The European Commission has recently published new EU energy scenarios in its report, ‘EU energy trends to 2030’.
Interview: Henrik Bindslev, Chairman of the European Energy Research Alliance (EERA) Nov 03, 2010
In June 2010 Henrik Bindslev, Director of the Danish National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy (Risø DTU), was named chairman of the European Energy Research Alliance (EERA), replacing Ton Hoff (ECN). Here, Mr Bindlev outlines how he sees the development of the EERA and how alternative energy technologies are emerging faster than anticipated.
Green Energy funding backed by European Parliament's Industry Committee Oct 08, 2010
Projects designed to improve energy efficiency could receive up to EUR 115 million in EU funds that would otherwise go unspent following the European Parliament’s approval of European Commission proposals for further funding under the European Energy Recovery Programme (EERP).
France, UK, Germany issue joint call for 30% CO2 cuts Jul 22, 2010
Ministers from the UK, France and Germany have issued a joint call for the EU to raise its emission reduction target to 30% by 2020.
Renewables account for 62% of the new electricity generation capacity installed in the EU in 2009 Jul 22, 2010
The ‘Renewable Energy Snapshots’ report, published in July 2010 by the Joint Research Centre (JRC), shows that renewable energy sources accounted for 62%, or 17GW, of the new electricity generation capacity installed in the EU27 in 2009. This is up from 57% in 2008.
EU looks to move towards a 30 per cent emissions cut Jul 01, 2010
On 26 May the European Commission presented an analysis of the costs, benefits and options for moving beyond the EU's greenhouse gas reduction target for 2020 from 20 percent below 1990 levels to 30 percent once the conditions are met.
EERA launches new joint energy research programmes Jul 01, 2010
In response to the increasing need for energy innovation in Europe and beyond, the European Energy Research Alliance (EERA) is launching its new Joint Research Programmes to help strengthen, expand and optimise EU energy research. The first Joint Programmes of research on Wind, Photovoltaic, Smart Grids and Geothermal were officially launched during the SET-Plan conference, on 3-4 June 2010 in Madrid.
Announcement: New publication from DG Energy: 'The European Strategic Energy and Technology Plan (SET-Plan)' Jul 01, 2010
This 16-page brochure provides a concise overview of the SET-Plan, the European Industrial Initiatives (EIIs), the Steering Group, the European Energy Research Alliance (EERA) and SETIS.
European Parliament roundtable: At the intersection of financing and policy – investing in low-carbon energy technologies in the EU Jun 04, 2010
Despite the effects of the global economic crisis, investment in low-carbon technologies has remained comparatively stable in recent years. The crisis has, however, reinforced the importance of the financial impetus needed to bring low-carbon energy technologies on stream.
Financing the development and installation of low-carbon energy is currently a political priority, but increased investment for these energy technologies is needed at both EU and international levels.
Europe on track to meet ambitious renewables targets Apr 13, 2010
The European Commission released a report revealing that the EU is on track to exceed its target of generating 20% of all energy consumed from renewables, as set out in the Renewable Energy Directive. Ten of the EU’s 27 Member States are likely to surpass their national targets, while a further 12 will meet their goals. Just five countries are predicted to miss their targets using domestic renewable energy sources alone.
Strategic energy technologies
- - Advanced fossil fuel production
- - Biofuels
- - Bioenergy
- - Cement energy efficiency
- - Carbon capture and storage
- - Cogeneration of heat and power
- - Concentrated solar power
- - Electricity grids
- - Electricity storage in the power sector
- - Fuel cells and hydrogen
- - Geothermal power
- - Hydropower
- - Nuclear fission power
- - Nuclear fusion power
- - Ocean wave power
- - Road transport efficiency
- - Solar heating and cooling
- - Solar photovoltaic
- - Wind energy
