Results of vote in Parliament

The European Parliament adopted a resolution tabled by the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy on microgeneration - small-scale electricity and heat generation. The resolution affirms that microgeneration must be a vital element in future energy generation if the EU is to meet its renewable energy targets in the long term. Furthermore, and noting that energy poverty is a growing problem, Members state that facilitating microgeneration at the individual and community level can empower consumers to become active agents in the energy sector while gaining more control over their energy use and reducing the amount of energy they have to purchase.

Parliament points out that specific barriers are limiting the larger-scale deployment of microgeneration technologies, including:

· the challenge posed by high up-front investment costs;

· the high level of administrative complexity associated with connection and access to the electricity grid;

· lack of awareness regarding the energy and cost savings offered by different microgeneration technologies over their lifetime.

It calls for steps to publicise microgeneration solutions and best practices in this field.

Regulatory framework : the resolution asks the Commission to draw up recommendations on how to shorten and simplify the administrative procedures involved in operating and connecting microgeneration units to the grid, with a particular focus on setting up one-stop-shop procedures.

It also calls on the Commission, Member States and regulatory actors to:

· develop specific mechanisms in order to encourage self-sufficiency, in conjunction with an overall reduction in consumption;

· develop regulatory frameworks defining the roles and responsibilities of all actors in relation to distribution grids, with a particular focus on the conditions permitting an uptake of aggregation, given its future crucial role in the active participation of microgeneration in the system;

· recognise the increasingly important role of distribution system operators (DSOs) and facilitate DSOs' investment in the distribution system, with a view to improving the overall efficiency of the energy system;

· identify budget lines under the Intelligent Energy Europe (IEE) programme and to work together with the Member States to remove existing barriers in national laws on access to finance for individual and cooperative microgeneration projects, create new targeted financial instruments (e.g. microcredits), and disseminate best practices regarding these activities;

I nfrastructur e: Members want to see the full implementation of the third energy package , and notably the EU metering legislation. Where it is shown in the cost-benefit analysis to be in the consumer interest, Member States must to speed up the rollout of smart meters in order to help households acquire accurate data and full value for the energy produced on their premises.

The resolution highlights a series of issues which should be considered, including:

· the possibility of introducing microgeneration systems into urban planning projects;

· the need to facilitate access to the grid for microgenerators while addressing the issue of network costs related to small-scale energy production and maintaining efficient network management;

· the need to incentivise innovation and investment in local distribution grids;

· the possibility of supporting crowdfunding models, i.e. long-term investment systems in which investors and entrepreneurs are in direct contact through a platform, in order to create opportunities and encourage people to build microgeneration cooperatives;

· the need to pay particular attention to decentralised renewables in the current drafting and negotiation process regarding the network codes.

Specific actions : Parliament calls on the Commission and Member States, as appropriate, to:

carry out a comprehensive assessment of the potential capacity for microgeneration , and to examine best practices within the EU and the potential impact of a large-scale uptake of microgeneration on the European internal energy market and infrastructure; ensure that microgeneration is eligible for financing under EU funds , including the Structural Funds, from the 2014-2020 period onwards; ensure research, development and innovation funding is invested in microgeneration in order to develop appropriate technical solutions and installations; improve implementation of the strategies for small-scale electricity and heat generation contained in the existing EU policy framework, thereby recognising the importance of microgeneration and facilitating its take-up in the Member States; take account of the role of microgeneration in future EU energy legislation , particularly in the context of the Union's forthcoming (2030) climate and energy package; look carefully at the existing cost structures in the energy network and to provide guidance on means of facilitating permission and grid access for, and operation of, microgeneration units.

T7-0374/2013

Debate in Parliament

B7-0388/2013

B7-0217/2013

PE513.047