40 Amendments of Dan NICA related to 2019/2189(INI)
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 18 a (new)
Citation 18 a (new)
- having regard to the European Court of Auditors Briefing paper on EU support for energy storage (Review No 04/2019),
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
A a. whereas the Commission estimates that the EU will need to be able to store six times more energy than today to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050;
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the transition to a climate- neutral economy requires an energy transition away from fossil fuels towards a climate-neutral and renewable-based system;
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas most renewable electricity sources, such as wind and solar, are intermittent and variable; whereas the integration of variable renewable energy sources into the electricity system requires increased flexibility regarding supply and demand in order to stabilise the electricity grid and to prevent extreme price fluctuations to maintain security of supply and affordability of energy; whereas this increased flexibility requires increased energy storage facilities in the EU;
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Calls on the Member States to fully explore their energy storage potential and to define a policy strategy for storage;
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on the Commission to develop a comprehensive strategy on energy storage; encourages the Commission to consider all kinds of energy storage including batteries, pumped storage, fly wheels, fuel cells and thermal storage with a technology-open approach, as different storage technologies can have different use cases such as long- and short-term storage and use in industry, transport or homes; notes that the strategy should address the current lack of long-term storage; further encourages the Commission to lay out in the strategy ways to support research, development, innovation and adequate investment in energy storage;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls on the Commission to establish a task force involving all relevant Directorates-General to develop this strategy, including a comprehensive analysis of the carbon footprint and life cycle of storage technologies, taking into account at leasthe market and services related aspects, including but not limited to the extraction and/or production of raw materials, the manufacturing process, transport and the recycling process, where applicabland the maintenance process, where applicable; the task force should also assess the potential of the various storage technologies and solutions to create local value chains and market-oriented business models catering for new jobs and services in Europe;
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes that the energy transition towards a renewable-based system requires innovative approaches in research, a well- developed and smart electricity grid and advanced storage technologies, backup generation and demand management in order to secure a constant power supply; therefore calls on the Commission to continue providing support for research in storage, including on new and emerging alternative technologies, in the framework of Horizon Europe;
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes that the energy transition towards a climate-neutral and renewable- based system requires a well-developed electricity grid and advanced storage technologies, backup generation and demand management in order to secure a constant power supply;
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Highlights the synergies between the energy storage and interconnectors; interconnectors have a significant role in the provision of flexibility to the grid, as they help balance the generation of countries with different RES generation profiles and improve the efficiency of the use of their storage capacity;
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Underlines that the transition to a climate-neutral economy must not endanger security of supply and affordability of energy; stresses that reliable powerenergy supply, increased energy efficiency, affordability and the energy transition must go hand in hand; stresses that this can be achieved by increased energy storage facilities;
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Underlines that the transition to a climate-neutral economy must not endanger security of supply, energy access and affordability; stresses that reliable power supply and the energy transition must go hand in hand;
Amendment 103 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Underlines that the development of affordable and integrated storage solutions should be the priority and that therefore, cost reductions and efficiency improvements in energy storage solutions are crucial; points out that research and innovation are the key contributors to cost reduction and increased efficiency;
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Deeply regrets that infrastructure projects which are crucial to the energy transition often face strong resistance at local level; encourages the Member States, regions and municipalities to actively encourage public support at the local levelall levels through collaborative governance, for instance through early public participation and consultation, an abundant dissemination of information, including the cost of non-action, transparency regarding the planned projects and models to make the concerned communities benefit from the installations where appropriate;
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Deeply regretRecalls that infrastructure projects which are crucial to the energy transition often face important delays in the permitting procedures and strong resistance at local level; encourages the Member States to actively encourage public support at the local level, for instance through early public participation towards a simplification and streamlining of permitting procedures and timeframes and to actively encourage public information and participation in order to boost support at the local level; calls on the Commission to assess whether to issue guidelines to Member States for an harmonization on the matter;
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Calls on the Commission, in the implementation of the European Structural and Investment Funds, to ensure more effective integration of operational programs managed at national and regional level with other directly managed instruments, in particular Horizon, in order to have a homogeneous and mutually supportive framework;
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Points out that most Member States require operators of storage facilities to pay network charges or energy taxes and other levies twice; is convinced that the abolishment of this burden would lead to more energy storage projects being deployed; calls on the Commission to prohibit the double taxation related to energy storage projects in its upcoming proposal for a revised Energy Taxation Directive; calls on the Member States to abolish any kind of double taxation or charges related to energy storage projects;
Amendment 161 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Regrets the lack of market deployment of research projects under Horizon 2020, and welcomes the planned greater focus on battery projects and close- to-market activities under Horizon Europe, in particular through the creation of the European Innovation Council; calls for greater use of pre-commercial procurement, including public procurement; further calls for sufficient funding for Horizon Europe to be able to support energy storage capacities in the EU as well as for reduced administrative burden in order to facilitate access to finance for start-ups and SMEs active in the field of energy storage; further notes that ways must be found to increase the success rate of research projects in the field of energy storage;
Amendment 173 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Notes thatwith concern that there is only an indirect reference to energy storage projects in the Guidelines on State aid for environmental protection and energy 2014- 2020; notes, furthermore, that astonishingly few State aid measures for storage projects have been notified in the past;
Amendment 184 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12 a. Points out that in most Member States the procurement in grid services, such as frequency ancillary services, is based on short-term contracts only, while other services, like non-frequency ancillary services, are often not even traded in markets; is convinced that markets providing long-term price signals are paramount for investors and operators of storage facilities and would lead to more energy storage projects being deployed; calls on the Member States to ensure a full, adequate, timely and effective implementation of the Clean Energy Package to provide the correct market signals and develop non- discriminatory procurement; calls on the Commission to monitor and guide Member States in such implementation;
Amendment 188 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12 b. Acknowledges the importance of a harmonized and clear framework related to the ownership and operation of different energy storage technologies; underlines the importance that the energy storage assets shall be owned and managed by market players as competitive activities in line with the principles of Clean Energy Package;
Amendment 199 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Acknowledges the high potential of hydrogen, especially of green hydrogen, for energy storage andlonger-term and high-volume energy storage and sector integration, for example as feedstock for energy-intensive industries;
Amendment 204 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13 a. Notes that production facilities for green hydrogen remain limited in the European Union today; further notes that an increased and timely deployment of renewable energies is crucial for the domestic production of green hydrogen; calls on the Commission to conduct an analysis of the current and potential European capacity to produce green hydrogen; further encourages the Commission to analyse capacities for the underground storage of hydrogen and to examine measures to increase the public and private investment in research regarding green hydrogen;
Amendment 205 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13 a. Recognizes the importance that the "green value" of hydrogen from renewable sources can be documented throughout the value chain, for example by issuing a green label in addition to the European guarantees of origin already established in Article 19 of the Renewable Energy Directive 2018/2001/EU, thereby enabling the creation of a European market for green hydrogen;
Amendment 208 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13 b. Notes that the use of hydrogen as an energy storage is not competitive yet due to high production costs; further notes the great cost difference between green and blue hydrogen; points out the importance to support measures leading to a cost reduction of green hydrogen in order to make it a viable business case;
Amendment 209 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 c (new)
Paragraph 13 c (new)
13 c. Points out that green hydrogen can be an important technology for energy storage in a climate neutral economy after 2050; therefore calls on the Commission to develop a long-term strategy for hydrogen and the gas sector in line with the goal of a climate neutral economy until 2050; further calls on the Commission to analyse in this strategy the role of blue hydrogen in the decarbonisation of our society as a transition molecule towards the sole use of green hydrogen, including a possible trajectory and greenhouse gas emissions like methane for the use of blue hydrogen and required CCS and/or CCU technologies;
Amendment 212 #
14. Notes that there are varying standards in the Member States as regards the blending of hydrogen with natural gas and biomethane; calls, therefore, on the Commission to develop minimum blending standards for hydrogen both for the gas grid and end uses; points out that for this, a stakeholder consultation should be made to ensure that these standards are adapted to the end users’ quality needs and technological capacities to take up hydrogen-blended gas; further recommends the development of European standards for climate-neutral and renewable gases and a guarantees of origin system accounting for the avoided CO2-emissions, as well as for clarifying how the gas was produced, including the feedstocks used, in order to enable the traceability of green energy for consumers and end users;
Amendment 216 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Notes that there are varying standards in the Member States as regards the blending of hydrogen with natural gas; calls, therefore, on the Commission to adopt a clear definition of green hydrogen and to develop minimum blending standards for hydrogen both for the gas grid and end uses;
Amendment 224 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. CUnderlines the importance of the existing gas infrastructure for storage and transportation purposes of decarbonised and renewable energy carriers; calls on the Commission to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the cost of retrofitting and readiness of gas infrastructure for the use of green hydrogen and hydrogen-blended natural gas and biomethane;
Amendment 251 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16 a. Reiterates that according to Commission estimates lithium-ion batteries with a storage capacity of approximately 200 GWh are needed to satisfy the European battery demand and that for that, significant investments are required; calls thus upon the Commission and the Member States to step up support for innovation, research, development and deployment of all kinds of battery storage facilities, e.g. through Horizon Europe, the KIC InnoEnergy and public-private partnerships;
Amendment 252 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16 a. Notes that the access to electricity and flexibility markets will be key to realise the potential of batteries storage and calls on the European Commission to dedicate sufficient resources to an ambitious implementation of the Clean Energy Package;
Amendment 257 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Is concerned that the EU has a very low battery manufacturing capacity and that factories for the production of batteries in the European Union risk to be mainly financed by companies from third countries; welcomes, therefore, the European Battery Alliance and the Strategic Action Plan on Batteries to build a competitive and sustainable value chain for the production of batteries in Europe; calls for continuous support for them and for the implementation of the Strategic Action Plan on Batteries to be strengthened; welcomes, in this respect, the Commission’s announcement that it will propose legislation on batteries in support of the Strategic Action Plan and the circular economy; calls, in this regard, for life cycle analysis of batteries;
Amendment 268 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Is concerned about the EU’s heavy dependence on imports of raw materials for battery production and the social and ecological conditions in which they are extracted; is convinced that enhanced recycling schemes for batteries could deliver a significant share of the raw materials required for battery production within the EU;
Amendment 277 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Calls on the Commission to consider a recycling target for lithium-ion batteries when revising the Batteries Directivebatteries and/or a minimum share of recycled content in batteries when revising the Batteries Directive and to examine measures to increase the social and ecological standards within the whole value chain of battery production;
Amendment 285 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20 a. Points out the need for a European standardisation framework for battery design including sustainability criteria;
Amendment 289 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20 a. Highlights the need to support research, knowhow and skills in order to foster the battery production in EU;
Amendment 316 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Considers district heating to be a very efficient tool for energy storage and residential heating in densely populated areas with increasing shares of renewable heating and residual heat and for providing process heating for industry; calls on the Commission and the Member States to support and develop district heating networks;
Amendment 344 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Believes that home batteries, domestic heat storage, vehicle-to-grid technology and, demand response and sector integration help to cut consumption peaks, provide flexibility and are playing an increasingly important role in ensuring that the energy grid is efficient and integrated;
Amendment 347 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26 a. Notes that demand response by industrial actors requires higher flexibility and adaptability of production processes; points out that thus demand response needs to be managed in a way that allows to maintain current employment schemes, for example through energy storage facilities such as sodium-sulphur batteries;
Amendment 352 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 b (new)
Paragraph 26 b (new)
26 b. Is convinced that batteries and fuel cells will play a significant role in the decarbonisation of the transport sector, as well as for grid stabilisation; encourages the fast deployment of the necessary infrastructure; in this respect, welcomes the Commission’s declaration to support the deployment of public recharging and refuelling points; also welcomes the review of the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Directive and of the TEN-T Regulation; urges the Commission and the Council to maintain high levels of funding for CEF;