CHP association calls for more assistance for the sector so that Europe can combat climate change

Although the European Commission published a strategy on the internal market four years ago, designed to produce a level playing field for electricity generation, the development of schemes such as the integration of environmental costs into energy pricing still remains far behind expectations, says Euroheat and Power. The organisation points out that Europe is missing out on an important opportunity that would aid its achievement of its Kyoto obligations. If the region was to achieve its CHP target, this could save about 170 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.

According to Euroheat and Power, a new CHP directive should contain the following elements:

• common definition and methodology for the certification of CHP plants;
• national targets;
• a requirement for national governments to give an efficiency-orientated financial bonus to CHP; and
• a Community level monitoring mechanism.