EURELECTRIC Conference
RENEWABLE ENERGY 2020: Opportunities and Challenges
7-8 May 2009, Hotel
Radisson Royal SAS, Brussels
Session I – RES TECHNOLOGIES: How will we meet the 2020 targets?
Lars Thaaning Pedersen- Videoclip
Lars Thaaning Pedersen, Director of Business Development and Project Valuation for Wind Energy at DONG Energy,
a pioneer in offshore windpower, explained the key differences between onshore and offshore wind. Although offshore wind requires
larger investments and is more expensive, it also has the benefits of access to larger energy resources, potentially larger projects
bringing economies of scale, and a less complicated planning process. So the challenge is now to “industrialize” offshore wind,
said Mr Thaaning Pedersen, holding out the vision of “mega” offshore power plants some time after 2015. Stressing that
the industry is currently at “a tipping point”, he explained the vital need for a legislative regime providing predictability,
which would enable long term planning and help companies to get over supply chain constraints - eg shortage of wind turbine suppliers,
and geographical bottlenecks - lack of cross-national infrastructure, which prevent the sort of large scale deployment that could drive
down costs. “We need predictability to make sure we can deliver on our promise” of being a significant player in reaching the 2020 target,
concluded Mr Thaaning Pedersen.
Bernd Wollwerth- Videoclip
“We still have a lot to do and the target deadline is just 10 years away,”
Bernd Wollwerth, Sector Manager at Ecofys, reminded the audience, explaining the potential role that various sources of biomass can play in reaching the 20% target set out in the Renewables Directive. Under the Directive, biomass will in future, in order to be counted towards the target, have to meet criteria such as minimum sustainability requirements - including minimum greenhouse gas savings, protection of biodiversity and protection of carbon stocks – not forgetting the general challenge of land scarcity. Moreover, a proposal to penalise indirect land use change when biomass production causes other crops to be diverted to ‘no go’ areas is currently being drawn up by the European Commission with limited application expected after 2017. As an example of future biomass potential, he explained that the growth of algae, which easily meets the sustainability criteria, is currently only available on a small scale and costs remain high. Mr Wollwerth concluded that the overall biomass potential is very high, but at present still remains mostly theoretical and there is a regional scarcity of sustainable biomass.
The European Commission proposal envisages binding TSO-membership – both EU-based and non-EU based in some cases – in ENTSO-E, which would be responsible for an annual power generation adequacy report, an annual work programme and the drawing up of rules and codes, plus a 10-year network development plan, although it was far from clear how binding this plan would be, he pointed out, underlining that the permitting process – which is outside the control of ENTSO – is a key factor in network development. Mr Vandenberghe drew attention to the fact that the designated "regions" and the challenges they face are changing over time depending on the maturity of the market and argued that it was unclear how to govern regional TSO groupings and involve relevant stakeholders at regional level in the planning/rule-setting process. Mr Vandenberghe underlined that the market development strategy must be customer-driven but argued also that a fair balance must be struck between the pan-European goal, the reality of the synchronous areas in Europe, and EU-non-EU regional issues, in which non-EU countries such as Norway and Switzerland have a key role.
Thomas Nowak- Videoclip
Thomas Nowak, Communication Manager at the European Heat Pumps Association (EHPA), explained to the conference delegates the functioning principles of heat pumps and the various parameters influencing their efficiency. He pointed out that all heat pump units which achieve the minimum efficiency standards set out under the Renewables Directive, measured by the seasonal performance factor – SPF, will be counted toward the 2020 target. Given the prerequisites of highly efficient heat pump units, quality system design and installation, consumer awareness of quality criteria, plus a power supply generated from renewable sources, heat pumps can make a significant contribution to meeting the 2020 targets, Mr Nowak told the audience. According to an EHPA full impact scenario, if heat pumps were installed in all new and renovated houses, they could achieve over 25% of the RES and energy efficiency targets and 20% of greenhouse gas emissions reduction target.
|
