10:13 22-6-2006

Brussel, 15 June 2006. This morning, the European Parliament adopted by a majority of 317 to 214 an amendment asking that in the forthcoming 7th European Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7) approximately two thirds of the budget in the area of "non-nuclear energy" (2.385 millions EUR) is reserved for renewable energies, energy efficiency and savings. This is circa 450 millions more than proposed by the European Commission.

EREC (European Renewable Energy Council) and the German Federam Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safty announce the the 2007 European Renewable Energy Policy Conference. The conference will take place 29-31 January 2007 in Brussels.

A recent study of the Bremer Energie Institut looks at the environmental effects of the whole value chains of different energy sources. Renewable energies – environmental benefits, economic growth and job creation. Case Study Paper was commissioned by IMV - Environemental Assessement Institute, Denmark, and confirms the positive benefits of utilising renewable energy sources. Analysing ten different energy technologies, it concludes that solar thermal has by far the least...

EU Commissioner Piebalgs to speak at the official launch event in Brussels. ESTIF and EUREC Agency invite the whole solar thermal sector to participate in the Platform and its launch event.

Brussels, 26 April 2006. After its official commitment to promote renewable energies in the heating sector, the EU is now setting a good example. At its parliamentary headquarters in Brussels, a solar system for hot water is being installed. The system comes from Austrian manufacturer TiSUN® - Made in Tirol by Teufel & Schwarz.

In their latest solar thermal statistics the International Energy Agency's Solar Heating and Cooling Programme (IEA-SHC) sees world wide solar thermal capacity at 74,3 GWth (2004). The total energy production from solar thermal is 58.117 GWh per year.

The European certification scheme Solar Keymark is attracting more and more interest from industry and governments. It helps reduce testing and certification costs as governments accept Solar Keymark'ed products in their support programmes.

Brussels, 21 March 2006: Spain has become one of the countries with the most advanced solar legislation in the world. Last Friday, 17th March, the Spanish government approved the new Technical Buildings Code (CTE, Codigo Tecnico de la Edificacion), the most significant reform of the Spanish building sector for decades.

Brussels, 14 February. With an overwhelming majority the European Parliament today called for a European Directive to Promote Renewable Heating and Cooling. The Parliamentarians agreed on an Initiative Report drafted by German MEP Mechtild Rothe, which calls the European Commission to come forward with a legislative proposal. In a swift reaction to the clear statement of the Parliament, EU Energy Commissioner Piebalgs announced that the Commission would propose such a directive already in 2006.