32 Amendments of Nikolaos VAKALIS related to 2008/0016(COD)
Amendment 133 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) The Brussels European Council of March 2007 reaffirmed the Community's commitment to the Community-wide development of renewable energies beyond 2010. It endorsed a mandatory target of a 20% share of renewable energies in overall Community energy consumption by 2020 and a mandatory 10% minimum target to be achieved by all Member States for the share of biofuels in transport petrol and diesel consumption by 2020, to be introduced in a cost-effective way. It stated that the binding character of the biofuel target is appropriate only when subject to production being sustainable, second- generation biofuels becoming commercially available and Directive 98/70/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 1998 relating to the quality of petrol and diesel fuels and amending Council Directive 93/12/EEC being amended to allow for adequate levels of blending. Given the most recent evidence which shows a connection between increased use of biofuels on the one hand, and a worldwide increase in environmental and ecological threats and endangerment of food security on the other, it seems appropriate that until 2015 Member States initially pursue a mandatory target for biofuels of less than 10%. On the basis of an evaluation, Member States should decide whether to increase this initial target between 2015 and 2020.
Amendment 145 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 6 a (new)
Recital 6 a (new)
6a. Within the framework of this Directive, it is vital that each Member State employs the most efficient and effective support scheme to facilitate the achievement of the renewable energy targets, taking into account the specific characteristics of the electricity market within that Member State.
Amendment 147 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) In the light of the positions taken by the Commission, the Council and the European Parliament, it is appropriate to establish mandatory targets for an overall 20% share of renewable energy and 10% share of renewable energy in transport in the European Union's consumption in 2020.
Amendment 156 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 10
Recital 10
Amendment 191 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) Heat pumps using geothermal resources from the ground or groundwater, and heat pumps using ambient heat from thesurface water or air to transfer the thermal energy to a useful temperature level, need some energy input (typically electricity) to function. Heat pumps using ambient heat from the air often require the use of significant amountsThermal energy generated by heating ofr conventional energy. Therefore, only useful thermal energy coming from heat pumps using ambient heat from the air that meet the minimum requirements of the coefficient of performance established in Commission Decision 2007/742/EC, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1980/2000 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 July 2000 on a revised Community eco-label award scheme, should be taken into account for the purpose of measuring compliance with the targets established by this Directiveoling systems using geothermal energy from the ground or water should be taken into account after having deduced the non-renewables final energy input required to operate the systems.
Amendment 236 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 26 a (new)
Recital 26 a (new)
(26a) The European Parliament, in its Resolution of 14 February 2006 with recommendations to the Commission on heating and cooling from renewable sources of energy1, called for tax advantages, direct investment aid, regulatory measures and other mechanisms for the promotion of the utilisation of renewable energy systems and of local and remote district heating and cooling from renewable energies. _______________________________ 1 OJ C 280 E, 29.11.2006, p. 115.
Amendment 340 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – point a
Article 2 – point a
(a) “energy from renewable sources” means renewable non-fossil energy sources: wind, solar, geothermal, wave, tidal, hydropower, biomass, landfill gas, sewage treatment plant gas and biogases, waste heat from cogeneration, natural cooling; this definition may be adapted to technical progress by the Commission acting in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 21(3);
Amendment 397 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
3. Each Member State shall ensure that the share of energy from renewable sources in transport in 202015 is at least 104% of final consumption of energy in transport in that Member State. The Commission, on the basis of the results of the monitoring and the reporting as required under article 20 and in due time, may propose that this Directive is amended so that Member States ensure that the share of energy from renewable sources in transport increases between 2015 and 2020.
Amendment 420 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
1. Each Member State, in cooperation with its regional authorities and in close consultation with stakeholders, shall adopt a national action plan.
Amendment 437 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 2
Article 4 – paragraph 2
2. Member States shall notify their national action plans to the Commission by 31 March 2010 at the latest. 1║. The Commission shall, by 2009, provide a template for the national action plans in order to give guidance to the Member States and facilitate benchmarking.
Amendment 449 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
2. Member States may apply to the Commission for account to be taken, for the purposes of paragraph 1, of the construction of renewable energy plants with very long lead-times on their territory under the following conditions: (a) construction of the renewable energy plant must have started by 20168; (b) the renewable energy plant must have a production capacity equal to or in excess of 51000 MW or at least equal to 5 % of the maximum power capacity of the Member State concerned; (c) it must not be possible for the plant to become operational by 2020; (d) it must be possible for the plant to become operational by 20224.
Amendment 456 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 3
Article 5 – paragraph 3
3. Where a Member State considers that, due to force majeure, it is under an impossibility to meet the share of energy from renewable sources in final consumption of energy in 2020 set out in the third column of the table in Annex 1, it shall inform the Commission as soon as possible. The Commission, after a comprehensive consultation with the Member State concerned, shall adopt a decision on whether force majeure has been demonstrated, in which case it shall decide what adjustment shall be made to the Member State’s final consumption of energy from renewable sources for the year 2020.
Amendment 467 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 2
Article 5 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 2
Thermal energy generated by heat pumps using geothermal energy from the ground or water shall be taken into account f, waste heat, or othe purposes of paragraph 1(b). Thermal energy generated by heat pumps using ambient heat from the airr thermal heat from renewable energy sources, shall be taken into account for the purposes of paragraph 1(b), provided that the energy efficiency of such heat pumps meet to the extent that it exceeds the mfinimum requirements of eco-labelling laid down pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1980/2000, where applicable, in particular the minimum coefficient of performance established in Decision 2007/742/EC, and reviewed in accordance with that Regulational energy input of non-renewable resources required to operate the systems.
Amendment 628 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
1. Member States shall ensure that any national rules concerning the authorisation, certification and licensing procedures that are applied to plants and associated transmission and distribution network infrastructures for the production of electricity, heating or cooling from renewable sources, and to the process of transformation of biomass into biofuels or other energy products, are proportionate and necessary.
Amendment 633 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) the respective responsibilities of national, regional and local administrative bodies for authorisation, certification and licensing procedures are clearly defined, withincluding land planning, with short and precise deadlines for approving planning and building applications and that the administration acts as a ‘one-stop-shop’ for the applicants;
Amendment 637 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
(da) clear guidelines for the development of renewable energy projects developed in areas designated under Community environmental legislation;
Amendment 642 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – point f a (new)
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – point f a (new)
(fa) appropriate regulatory measures and tax advantages to promote the most cost- effective utilisation of renewable energy systems and associated heating and cooling networks are in place;
Amendment 644 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 2
Article 12 – paragraph 2
2. Member States shall clearly define any technical specifications which must be met by renewable energy equipment and systems in order to be connected to the grid and benefit from support schemes. Where European standards exist, including eco-labels, energy labels and other technical reference systems established by the European standardisation bodies, such technical specifications shall be expressed in terms of those standards. Such technical specifications shall not prescribe where the equipment and systems are to be certified.
Amendment 657 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1
Article 12 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1
4. In their building regulations and codes Member States shall require the use of minimum levels of energy from renewable sources or a maximum level of energy consumption per square meter in new orand refurbished buildings. Any exemption from those minimum levels shall be transparent and based on criteria relating to:
Amendment 670 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 4 – point b a (new)
Article 12 – paragraph 4 – point b a (new)
(ba) cultural and architectural heritage.
Amendment 683 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1
Article 12 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1
5. With respect to their building regulations and codes, Member States shall promote the use of renewable energy heating and cooling systems and equipment that achieve a significant reduction of energy consumption, with particular emphasis on solar thermal heating and cooling. Member States shall use energy or eco- labels or other appropriate certificates or standards developed at national or European level, where these exist, as the basis for encouraging such systems and equipment.
Amendment 695 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 5 a (new)
Article 12 – paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Easy access to public and private financing and renewables projects of European interest shall be guaranteed. In order to ease the financing of the achievement of the 20 % target, the Commission and the Member States shall, by 31 December 2009, present an analysis and plan aimed, in particular, at the: – better use of structural funds and framework programmes for renewable energies; – better and increased use of funds from the European Investment Bank and other public finance institutions; and – better access to risk capital notably by analysing the feasibility of a risk sharing facility for investments in renewables energies in the European Union similar to the Global Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Fund initiative which is reserved to renewables and energy efficiency investments in third countries. The Commission shall, in particular, analyse how those new financing possibilities could be used for the speeding up of ”renewables projects of European interest” through the acceleration of the: – development of 100 % or high renewables energy communities and cities in the framework of the “covenant of majors initiative”; – development of the required network infrastructure to develop off-shore wind and marine energy potentials in the various maritime areas of the European Union; – take-up of biomass based district heating and cooling networks in Northern and Eastern EU in combination with a major retrofitting programme of the existing building stock; – development of interconnectors with Mediterranean countries in order fully to tape into the vast potential of wind and solar thermal electricity potential in Mediterranean and other neighbouring countries.
Amendment 717 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 13 – paragraph 3
Article 13 – paragraph 3
3. Member States shall develop, by 31 December 2014 and after consultation with relevant stakeholders, certification schemes for installers of small-scale biomass boilers and stoves, solar photovoltaic and solar thermal systems and heat pumps. Those schemes shall be based on the criteria laid down in Annex IV. Each Member State shall recognise certification awarded by other Member States in accordance with these criteria.
Amendment 751 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 2
Article 14 – paragraph 2
2. Without prejudice to the maintenance of the reliability and safety of the grid, security of supply and fair competition, Member States shall ensure that transmission system operators and distribution system operators in their territory guarantee the transmission and distribution of electricity produced from renewable energy sources. They shall also and provide for priority access to the grid system of electricity produced from renewable energy sources. When dispatching electricity generating installations, transmission system operators shall give priority to generating installations using renewable energy sources insofar as the security of the national electricity system permits.
Amendment 774 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 8 a (new)
Article 14 – paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. The Commission shall carry out by 2 years after the entry into force of this Directive an assessment of the potential costs to energy-intensive industries and to households brought about by the necessary technical adaptations of the electricity transmission and distribution networks. Member States shall take appropriate measures to protect vulnerable energy consumers from the full costs referred to in paragraph 8a and to reduce energy poverty.
Amendment 991 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 19 – paragraph 1 – point k a (new)
Article 19 – paragraph 1 – point k a (new)
(ka) measures taken to ensure that new and refurbished buildings use a minimum level of energy from renewable sources or consume a maximum level of energy per square metre, as referred to in Art. 12(4);
Amendment 1000 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 20 – paragraph 3
Article 20 – paragraph 3
3. On the basis of the reports submitted by Member States pursuant to Article 19(1) and the monitoring and analysis referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, the Commission shall report every two years to the European Parliament and the Council. The first report shall be submitted in 2012. An interim report shall be submitted to the European Parliament and the Commission by June 2015 the latest, taking into account the reports submitted by the Member States in accordance with article 19 and after an effective public consultation with the relevant stakeholders. The Commission shall in particular report on the impediments which arose in reaching the intermediate objectives, the costs of realization of the set targets and the environmental benefits and impact, including the savings of CO2 emissions and may propose any necessary corrective measures.
Amendment 1007 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 20 – paragraph 5
Article 20 – paragraph 5
5. In its reports, the Commission shall analyse: (a) the relative environmental and social benefits and costs of different biofuels, the effects of the Community's import policies thereon, the security of supply implications and the ways of achieving a balanced approach between domestic production and imports; b) the impact of increased demand for biofuel on sustainability in the Community and in third countries; (c) the impact of EU biofuel policy on the availability of foodstuffs in exporting countries, the ability of people in developing countries to afford these foodstuffs, and wider development issues; and (d) the impact of increased demand for biomass on biomass using sectors. It shall, if appropriate, propose corrective action and propose that the initial target of 4% of final consumption of energy in transport from renewable sources be increased.
Amendment 1047 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex IV – paragraph 2
Annex IV – paragraph 2
2. Biomass, heat pump, shallow geothermal and solar photovoltaic and solar thermal installers shall be certified by an accredited training programme or training provider.
Amendment 1055 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex IV – paragraph 4 – point b a (new)
Annex IV – paragraph 4 – point b a (new)
(ba) in the case of shallow geothermal installers: training as a driller or pipe layer and have basic geological skills as a prerequisite;
Amendment 1056 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex IV – paragraph 7 – introductory part
Annex IV – paragraph 7 – introductory part
7. The theoretical part of the heat pump installer training shall cover market situation for heat pumps, geothermal resources and ground source temperatures of different regions, soil and rock identification for thermal conductivity, logistics, building laws, regulations on using geothermal resources, feasibility of using heat pumps in buildings and determining the most suitable heat pump system, and knowledge about their technical requirements, safety, air filtering, connection with the heat source and system layout. The training shall also provide good knowledge of any European standards for heat pumps, national and of relevant national and European legislation. The installer shall demonstrate the following key competences:
Amendment 1058 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex IV – paragraph 7 a (new)
Annex IV – paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. The theoretical part of the shallow geothermal installer training shall cover geothermal resources and ground source temperatures of different regions, soil and rock identification for thermal conductivity, regulations on using geothermal resources, determining the most suitable geothermal heat pump system, system layout, drilling technologies, installation of borehole heat exchangers, well construction, pressure testing, logistics, building laws, and safety. The training shall also provide good knowledge of any European standards for shallow geothermal, and of relevant national and European legislation. The installer shall demonstrate the following key competences: a) understanding geological and geothermal parameters of the underground and knowing their determination, nomenclature and identification of soil and rock types, preparing borehole reports incl. lithology, groundwater, etc.; basic geological and hydrogeological knowledge, b) familiarity with different drilling and digging technologies, choice of the optimum drilling method, ensuring protection of the environment (in particular groundwater) while drilling, c) ability to install borehole heat exchangers, to grout, backfill or otherwise complete the ground source system, and to perform pressure tests; skills for welding of plastic pipes and other connection methods, d) ability to construct groundwater wells, to install the relevant pipes, pumps and control systems, e) ability to perform the relevant documentation incl. identification and drawing of drilling locations.