EHJ February 2003, pages 62-63 Promoting co-generation - Tina Garrity looks at plans to increase the use of combined heat and power systems to generate electricity

The need to do more to promote greater energy efficiency and increased use of energy from renewable resources within the EU is one of the Commission's key environmental objectives. It has introduced a number of initiatives in this area. Last year saw the adoption of a directive on the energy performance of buildings and the publication of a proposal promoting the use of biofuels in transport. The sixth environment action programme has provided a useful focus for the Commission's work. Among other things, it calls for a further shift away from coal and oil fired power generation towards lower CO2 emission sources, including renewables. It also calls for greater use of combined heat and power (CHP) systems, with a target of 18 per cent of electricity supply to be provided by such sources by 2010.

In September 2001, a directive on the promotion of electricity produced from renewable energy sources was adopted. In July last year, the Commission turned its attention to CHP (also known as co-generation) issuing a draft directive promoting its use. Preliminary discussions on the proposal were held by the Council at the end of November 2002.

EU statistics indicate that in 1998, around 11 per cent of the EU's total electricity production came from co-generation whereby heat and power are produced in a single process. The Commission estimates that if the EU could raise this to 18 per cent, it would yield energy savings of 3 - 4 per cent of the EU's total gross inland energy consumption. Subsequent reductions in greenhouse gas emissions could amount to 65 million tonnes of CO2 per year.

A number of barriers exist for co-generation producers at present which the proposal seeks to reduce, for example, lack of access to the national grid. Under the directive, grid operators would have to guarantee the transmission and distribution of electricity produced from co-generation. This would involve drafting and publishing standard rules on grid connection and reinforcement and on the sharing of costs of system installations by all system users benefiting from them. These rules must be based on objective, transparent and non-discriminatory criteria and the charging of transmission and distribution fees must not discriminate against co-generation producers. Any new producer wishing to connect would have to be given a comprehensive and detailed estimate of the costs involved.

Another problem for producers can be administrative barriers, such as the time taken, or the cost of, obtaining authorisation. Because such rules vary widely across the EU, the Commission is at present reluctant to suggest harmonisation. Instead, the directive would require member states to examine their administrative procedures with a view to minimising such barriers and to report this evaluation to the Commission.

In addition to making life easier for producers, the directive seeks to kick-start member states into improving their performance in this area. Not only does co-generation need to grow, says the Commission, but it needs to become much more efficient. Under the directive, member states would have to analyse their national potential for high-efficiency co-generation. Criteria for doing this are set out.

The analysis must be based on well documented scientific data and distinguish between different types of co-generation (the proposal splits the process into "industrial", "heating" and "agricultural" co-generation.) A separate analysis of the barriers to high efficiency co-generation would be required. Every three years, member states would have to evaluate their progress towards increasing the share of high efficiency co-generation. They would be allowed to continue using support schemes for co-generation, but these must be based on the useful heat demand, taking account of opportunities to reduce energy demand by other means, eg energy efficiency measures.

One of the problems in legislating in this area at EU level is the lack of a common definition of co-generation. Recognising that member states are using different definitions for different purposes, the Commission has tried to come up with an approach which takes account of the various factors involved. It offers a basic harmonised definition of electricity from co-generation, as well as a methodology for determining the benefits of co-generation. Member states would be required to ensure that the efficiency of their co-generation production could be determined in accordance with this methodology.

Last, the directive would require member states to ensure that the origin of electricity produced in co-generation units could be guaranteed as such according to objective, transparent and non discriminatory criteria. They would have to adopt mechanisms, eg an independent supervisory body, to make sure this guarantee of origin was accurate and reliable. The information to be included in the guarantee is set out in the proposal.

COM (2002) 415. (Draft) Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the promotion of co-generation based on a useful heat demand in the internal energy market. OJ C 291 E. 26.11.02

Rules on personal food imports tightened up

Following a number of scares involving outbreaks of classical swine fever and foot and mouth disease in recent years, the Commission has been looking at ways of better containing such outbreaks and preventing them spreading into or across the EU.

Until recently, most EU border controls on foodstuffs contained an exemption for food of animal origin imported from outside the EU in small quantities for personal use, eg in luggage. Then 2001 saw the UK outbreak of foot and mouth disease, which affected three other member states.

The outbreaks were caused by virus type O1-PanAsia, a strain not circulating in any of the countries from which imports come legally into the EU.

In December 2001, an international conference on the prevention of foot and mouth disease took place in Brussels at which it was agreed that controls on travellers imports should be reinforced. Inevitably, amending EU legislation takes time so the Commission has published interim safeguard measures with regards to personal imports of products of animal origin for personal consumption. Guidance for enforcement officers on implementing the measures was issued by Defra in mid December 2002.

Essentially, the Commission decision suspends the application of various articles within EU food directives which exempt personal imports from control from 1 January 2003. It goes on to require member states to ensure that at all relevant points of entry into the Community (not just designated border inspection posts) the animal health conditions for imports of products of animal origin are brought to the attention of travellers arriving from third countries.

To assist in this, EU notices have been drafted which must be displayed in easily visible locations. Notices must be posted in at least one of the official languages of the member state of introduction into the EU and in a second language considered appropriate by the competent authority, eg that of a neighbouring country or, in the case of ports and airports, the language most likely to be used by passengers arriving at that terminal.

The notice should be complemented with additional information appropriate to local conditions and circumstances. International passenger transport operators must also play their part by using existing means of information for travellers (leaflets, announcements, on-screen displays etc) to inform passengers of the EU rules. The information to be provided is set out in the decision.

Further information is available from the Defra website at www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/illegali/allow/allowances.htm

Commission decision of 9 December 2002, laying down interim safeguard measures with regard to imports of products of animal origin for personal consumption. OJ L 353. 31.12.02. pp 1-9