The Danish Government has released its proposals for the shape of EU energy policy in both the short and the long term.
Commenting on the Government’s contribution, Climate and Energy Minister Lykke Friis said:
“If we are to become independent of fossil fuels, we need to contribute to reducing consumption on the national level, as well as contribute to an overall European effort. It doesn’t do us any good to follow an energy policy that is out of sync with what other countries are doing. Doing so would simply condemn us to isolation.”
“The EU traces its roots back the European Coal and Steel Community. With energy issues now at the top of the EU agenda, we’ve come full circle. A strategically crafted common energy policy can help guide Europe onto a path that makes it possible to reap gains on multiple fronts: climate, energy security and green growth. Furthermore, energy policy will also serve as an asset for Union’s foreign policy.”
In order to attain our goals, we need to focus on creating a “green” internal market that sees increasing harmonisation of technical standards, a renewed focus on research, development and demonstration of low carbon technologies and not least an expansion of the common energy supply infrastructure. The Union must increase the supply of renewable energy and efficiency needs to be improved. One specific example is electric cars, which could use the excess electricity generated by wind turbines at night to power environmentally friendly transport during the day. But if electric cars are ever to make their breakthrough, we need to common international standards for plugs and batteries.
Climate and Energy Minister Lykke Friis:
“Someday, we will be able to drive electric cars from northern Norway to southern Italy! But this isn’t something we can accomplish on our own in Denmark. We need to work together at the European level to strengthen our common energy policy.”
The Union’s dependence on imported oil and gas is expected to increase in the years to come. With that comes an increasing financial burden for energy importers.
Climate and Energy Minister Lykke Friis:
“One of the answers is reduced consumption – the energy we don’t use is energy we neither need to produce or import. Our vision emphasises energy efficiency, particularly in buildings. At the same time, we need innovative energy technology.”
For more information, please contact Press Secretary Jesper Bülow Zølck, +45 50 87 48 81, jebzo@kemin.dk.
The Danish Government’s contribution to the European Commission focuses on the following eight main areas
- Infrastructure and liberalisation: Developing a green internal market, focusing particularly on competitiveness and eliminating barriers to trade in green products, establishing super and smart grids, as well as harmonisation and standardisation in order to promote an increased introduction of renewable energy and new transport technology (electrically powered vehicles). Continued liberalisation leading to full ownership unbundling of the transmission system.
- Consumption and efficiency: Achieving a goal of 20% energy efficiency improvement operationalised in such a way that rewards countries that have already passed significant improvements. Special measures to improve energy efficiency of existing buildings, electronic apparatuses and similar products, as well as in manufacturing.
- Renewable energy: Supporting renewable energy goals. Formulating a cross-directorate biomass policy that includes sustainability provisions. Establishing a sustainable market for agricultural biomass. Studying how undesirable competition and subsidies for renewable energy and investments in renewable energy technology can be avoided.
- Low-carbon transport and new technologies: Promoting electrically powered vehicles (EPVs) and the development of a recharging network, as well as coordinating charging/use with production of renewable energy. Development of criteria that will secure a supply of sustainable biofuels.
- Research, development and demonstration: Doubling funding for research, development and demonstration of energy-related products and services, focusing particularly on renewable energy, energy efficiency and smart grids.
- Cross-directorate financial instruments: Budgetary upgrading of energy policy in order to support Union goals. Setting minimum standards for taxes on energy and emissions.
- External relations: Strengthening the external dimension of energy policy. In addition to strengthening the Union’s internal energy security, a prudent coordination of energy and foreign policy can lead to increased commercial opportunities.
- Long-term outlook for a Europe independent of fossil fuels: Creating a long-term vision for a Europe independent of fossil fuels that includes time horizons and milestones, and which is built on a sustainable economic foundation. A framework for a long-term strategy for supporting low-carbon energy supplies and increased independence from fossil fuels within the transport industry. An analysis of whether it is possible to increase renewable energy consumption and improve energy efficiency above the 2020-goals.