22 Amendments of Henna VIRKKUNEN related to 2023/0081(COD)
Amendment 21 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) The net-zero transformation is already causing huge industrial, economic, and geopolitical shifts across the globe, which will become ever more pronounced as the world advances in its decarbonisation efforts. The road to net zero translates into strong opportunities for the expansion of Union’s net-zero industry, making use of the strength of the Single Market, by promoting investment in technologies in the field of renewable energy technologies , electricity and heat storage technologies, heat pumps, flexibility and grid technologies, renewable fuels of non- biological origin technologies, electrolysers and fuel cells, fusion, small modular reactors and related best-in-class fuelstechnologies to produce energy from nuclear processes and their related fuel cycle, carbon capture, utilisation, and storage technologies, renewable material technologies and energy-system related energy efficiency technologies and their supply chains, allowing for the decarbonisation of our economic sectors, from energy supply to transport, buildings, and industry. A strong net zero industry within the European Union can help significantly in reaching the Union’s climate and energy targets effectively, as well as in supporting other Green Deal objectives, while creating jobs and growth.
Amendment 46 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 27
Recital 27
(27) Without prejudice to Union legislation applicable to a specific technology, including under the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for setting ecodesign requirements for sustainable products44 and the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning batteries and waste batteries45 , and unless otherwise indicated therein, when evaluating the environmental sustainability of the net-zero solutions procured on the basis of this Regulation, contracting authorities and contracting entities may take into account various elements with an impact on the climate and the environment. These may include, for instance, the durability and reliability of the solution; the ease of repair and maintenance; the ease of upgrading and refurbishment; the ease and quality of recycling; the use of substances; the consumption of energy, water and other resources in one or more life cycle stages of the product; the weight and volume of the product and its packaging; the incorporation of renewable materials or used components; the quantity, characteristics and availability of consumables needed for proper use and maintenance; the environmental footprint of the product and its life cycle environmental impacts; the carbon footprint of the product; the microplastic release; emissions to air, water or soil released in one or more life cycle stages of the product; the amounts of waste generated; the conditions for use. _________________ 44 Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for setting ecodesign requirements for sustainable products and repealing Directive 2009/125/EC, COM/2022/142 final, 30.03.2022. 45 Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning batteries and waste batteries, repealing Directive 2006/66/EC and amending Regulation (EU) No 2019/1020, COM/2020/798 final, 10.12.2020.
Amendment 58 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 62
Recital 62
(62) Net-zero regulatory sandboxes can be an important tool to promote innovation in the field of net-zero technologies and regulatory learning. Innovation needs to be enabled through experimentation spaces as scientific outcomes need to be tested in a controlled real-word environment. Regulatory sandboxes should be introduced to test innovative net-zero technologies in a controlled environment for a limited amount of time It is appropriate to strike a balance between legal certainty for participants in the Net- Zero regulatory sandboxes and the achievement of the objectives of Union law. As Net-Zero regulatory sandboxes must in any case comply with the essential requirements on Net-Zero technology laid out in Union and national law, it is appropriate to provide that participants , who comply with the eligibility requirements for Net-Zero regulatory sandboxes and who follow, in good faith, the guidance provided by the competent authorities and the terms and conditions of the plan agreed with those authorities, are not subject to any administrative fines or penalties. This is justified as the safeguards in place will, in principle, ensure effective compliance with Union or Member State law on the Net-Zero technology supervised in the regulatory sandboxes. The Commission will publish a Guidance for Sandboxes document in 2023 as announced in the New European Innovation Agenda to support Member States in preparing the net zero technology sandboxes. Those innovative technologies could eventually be essential to achieve the Union’s climate neutrality objective, ensure the security of supply and resilience of the Union’s energy system, and consequently enter the scope of strategic net-zero technologies once fulfilling the criteria as referred to in Article 3(1)(a).
Amendment 59 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 65
Recital 65
(65) Since strengthening the manufacturing capacity of key net-zero technologies in the Union will not be possible without a sizeable skilled workforce, it is necessary to introduce measures to facilitate the access of skilled workforce from third countries to the EU labour market and to boost the activation of more people to the labour market, notably women and young people not in employment, education or training (NEETs), including via skills first approaches as a complement to qualifications-based recruitment. In addition, in line with the objectives of the Council Recommendation on ensuring a fair transition towards climate-neutrality, specific support for job-to-job transition for workers in redundant and declining sectors are important. This means investing in skills and in quality job creation required for net-zero technologies in the Union. Building on and fully taking into account existing initiatives such as the EU Pact for Skills, EU level activities on skills intelligence and forecasting, such as by the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop) and the European Labour Authority, and the Blueprints for sectoral cooperation on skills, the objective is to mobilise all actors: Member States authorities, including at regional and local levels, education and training providers, social partners and industry, in particular SMEs, to identify skills needs, develop education and training programmes and deploy these at large scale in a fast and operational manner. Net-zero strategic projects have a key role to play in this regard. Member States and the Commission may ensure financial support including by leveraging the possibilities of the Union budget through instruments such as the European Social Fund Plus, Just Transition Fund, European Regional Development Funds, the Recovery and Resilience Facility, the Modernisation Fund, REPowerEU and the Single Market Programme.
Amendment 75 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) ‘net-zero technologies’ means renewable energy technologies66 ; electricity and heat storage technologies; heat pumps; grid technologies; renewable fuels of non-biological origin technologies; sustainable alternative fuels technologies67 ; electrolysers and fuel cells; advanced technologies to produce energy from nuclear processes with minimal waste from the fuel cycle, small modular reactors, and related best-in- class fuels; carbon capture, utilisation, and storage technologies; and energy- system related energy efficiency technologies. They refer to the final products, specific components and specific machinery primarily used for the production of those products. They shall have reached a technology readiness level of at least 8. _________________ 66 ‘renewable energy' means ‘renewable energy’ as defined in Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources 67 ‘sustainable alternative fuels’ means fuels covered by the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on ensuring a level playing field for sustainable air transport, COM/2021/561 final and by the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and Council on the use of renewable and low-carbon fuels in maritime transport COM/2021/562 finalany technology listed in the Annex, or any technology listed in a subsequent delegated adopted by the European Commission on the basis of Article 32, which has a substantial impact on climate change mitigation, promotes European technological excellence and resilience of energy systems, and fulfils the technical criteria as referred to in Article 29(7a).
Amendment 129 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) The net-zero transformation is already causing huge industrial, economic, and geopolitical shifts across the globe, which will become ever more pronounced as the world advances in its decarbonisation efforts. The road to net zero translates into strong opportunities for the expansion of Union’s net-zero industry, making use of the strength of the Single Market, by promoting investment in technologies in the field of renewable energy technologies , electricity and heat storage technologies, heat pumps, flexibility and grid technologies, renewable fuels of non- biological origin technologies, electrolysers and fuel cells, fusion, small modular reactors and related best-in-class fuelstechnologies to produce energy from nuclear processes and their related fuel cycle, carbon capture, utilisation, and storage technologies, renewable material technologies and energy-system related energy efficiency technologies and their supply chains, allowing for the decarbonisation of our economic sectors, from energy supply to transport, buildings, and industry. A strong net zero industry within the European Union can help significantly in reaching the Union’s climate and energy targets effectively, as well as in supporting other Green Deal objectives, while creating jobs and growth.
Amendment 140 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 23 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) develop and deploy credentials, including micro-credentials, to facilitate the transparency of skills acquired and enhance the access of skilled workforce from third countries to the EU labour market, the transferability between jobs and the cross-border mobility of the workforce, and to promote matching with relevant jobs through tools such as the European Employment Services (EURES) network and EURAXESS.
Amendment 141 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 2
Article 23 – paragraph 2
2. European Net Zero Industry Academies shall counter gender stereotypes and pay particular attention to the need to facilitate the access of skilled workforce from third countries to the EU labour market and to activate more women and young people, who are not in education, employment or training for the labour market.
Amendment 146 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 29 – paragraph 7 a (new)
Article 29 – paragraph 7 a (new)
Amendment 153 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 32 – paragraph 1
Article 32 – paragraph 1
The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 33 to amend the Annex of this Act as referred to in Article 3(1)(a), the modalities in which agreements between entities referred to in Article 18(1) and investments in storage capacity held by third parties are taken into account to meet their individual contribution set out in Article 18 (5), as well as the content of the reports referred to in Article 18 (6).
Amendment 154 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 32 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 32 – paragraph 1 a (new)
With regards to delegated acts amending the Annex of this Act, the Commission shall annually review and, when necessary, update the Annex by issuing a delegated act. The first review of the Commission shall be issued by [1 year after the date of entry into force of this Regulation]. The Commission shall base its review and update on a recommendation issued by the Net-Zero Industry Expert Group as referred to in Article 29(7a).
Amendment 163 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I
Annex I
Strategic net-zero technologies 1 Solar photovoltaic and solar thermal technologies 2 Onshore wind and offshore renewable technologies 3 Battery/storage technologies 4 Heat pumps and geothermal energy technologies 5 Electrolysers and fuel cells 6 Sustainable biogas/biomethane technologies 7 Carbon Capture and storage (CCS)and sustainable alternative fuel technologies covered by Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources 7 Carbon Capture and storage (CCS) and Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) technologies 8 Flexibility and Grid technologies 8a Technologies to produce energy from nuclear processes and their related fuel cycle 8b Renewable raw material technologies
Amendment 261 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 27
Recital 27
(27) Without prejudice to Union legislation applicable to a specific technology, including under the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for setting ecodesign requirements for sustainable products44 and the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning batteries and waste batteries45 , and unless otherwise indicated therein, when evaluating the environmental sustainability of the net-zero solutions procured on the basis of this Regulation, contracting authorities and contracting entities may take into account various elements with an impact on the climate and the environment. These may include, for instance, the durability and reliability of the solution; the ease of repair and maintenance; the ease of upgrading and refurbishment; the ease and quality of recycling; the use of substances; the consumption of energy, water and other resources in one or more life cycle stages of the product; the weight and volume of the product and its packaging; the incorporation of renewable materials or used components; the quantity, characteristics and availability of consumables needed for proper use and maintenance; the environmental footprint of the product and its life cycle environmental impacts; the carbon footprint of the product; the microplastic release; emissions to air, water or soil released in one or more life cycle stages of the product; the amounts of waste generated; the conditions for use. _________________ 44 Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for setting ecodesign requirements for sustainable products and repealing Directive 2009/125/EC, COM/2022/142 final, 30.03.2022. 45 Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning batteries and waste batteries, repealing Directive 2006/66/EC and amending Regulation (EU) No 2019/1020, COM/2020/798 final, 10.12.2020.
Amendment 382 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 62
Recital 62
(62) Net-zero regulatory sandboxes can be an important tool to promote innovation in the field of net-zero technologies and regulatory learning. Innovation needs to be enabled through experimentation spaces as scientific outcomes need to be tested in a controlled real-word environment. Regulatory sandboxes should be introduced to test innovative net-zero technologies in a controlled environment for a limited amount of time It is appropriate to strike a balance between legal certainty for participants in the Net- Zero regulatory sandboxes and the achievement of the objectives of Union law. As Net-Zero regulatory sandboxes must in any case comply with the essential requirements on Net-Zero technology laid out in Union and national law, it is appropriate to provide that participants , who comply with the eligibility requirements for Net-Zero regulatory sandboxes and who follow, in good faith, the guidance provided by the competent authorities and the terms and conditions of the plan agreed with those authorities, are not subject to any administrative fines or penalties. This is justified as the safeguards in place will, in principle, ensure effective compliance with Union or Member State law on the Net-Zero technology supervised in the regulatory sandboxes. The Commission will publish a Guidance for Sandboxes document in 2023 as announced in the New European Innovation Agenda to support Member States in preparing the net zero technology sandboxes. Those innovative technologies could eventually be essential to achieve the Union’s climate neutrality objective, ensure the security of supply and resilience of the Union’s energy system, and consequently enter the scope of strategic net-zero technologies once fulfilling the criteria as referred to in Article 3(1)(a).
Amendment 391 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 65
Recital 65
(65) Since strengthening the manufacturing capacity of key net-zero technologies in the Union will not be possible without a sizeable skilled workforce, it is necessary to introduce measures to facilitate the access of skilled workforce from third countries to the EU labour market and to boost the activation of more people to the labour market, notably women and young people not in employment, education or training (NEETs), including via skills first approaches as a complement to qualifications-based recruitment. In addition, in line with the objectives of the Council Recommendation on ensuring a fair transition towards climate-neutrality, specific support for job-to-job transition for workers in redundant and declining sectors are important. This means investing in skills and in quality job creation required for net-zero technologies in the Union. Building on and fully taking into account existing initiatives such as the EU Pact for Skills, EU level activities on skills intelligence and forecasting, such as by the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop) and the European Labour Authority, and the Blueprints for sectoral cooperation on skills, the objective is to mobilise all actors: Member States authorities, including at regional and local levels, education and training providers, social partners and industry, in particular SMEs, to identify skills needs, develop education and training programmes and deploy these at large scale in a fast and operational manner. Net-zero strategic projects have a key role to play in this regard. Member States and the Commission may ensure financial support including by leveraging the possibilities of the Union budget through instruments such as the European Social Fund Plus, Just Transition Fund, European Regional Development Funds, the Recovery and Resilience Facility, the Modernisation Fund, REPowerEU and the Single Market Programme.
Amendment 484 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) ‘net-zero technologies’ means renewable energy technologies66 ; electricity and heat storage technologies; heat pumps; grid technologies; renewable fuels of non-biological origin technologies; sustainable alternative fuels technologies67 ; electrolysers and fuel cells; advanced technologies to produce energy from nuclear processes with minimal waste from the fuel cycle, small modular reactors, and related best-in- class fuels; carbon capture, utilisation, and storage technologies; and energy- system related energy efficiency technologies. They refer to the final products, specific components and specific machinery primarily used for the production of those products. They shall have reached a technology readiness level of at least 8. _________________ 66 ‘renewable energy' means ‘renewable energy’ as defined in Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources 67 ‘sustainable alternative fuels’ means fuels covered by the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on ensuring a level playing field for sustainable air transport, COM/2021/561 final and by the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and Council on the use of renewable and low-carbon fuels in maritime transport COM/2021/562 finalany technology listed in the Annex, or any technology listed in a subsequent delegated act adopted by the European Commission on the basis of Article 32, which has a substantial impact on climate change mitigation, promotes European technological excellence and resilience of energy systems, and fulfils the technical criteria as referred to in Article 29(7a).
Amendment 1323 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 23 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) develop and deploy credentials, including micro-credentials, to facilitate the transparency of skills acquired and enhance the access of skilled workforce from third countries to the EU labour market, the transferability between jobs and the cross-border mobility of the workforce, and to promote matching with relevant jobs through tools such as the European Employment Services (EURES) network and EURAXESS.
Amendment 1329 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 2
Article 23 – paragraph 2
2. European Net Zero Industry Academies shall counter gender stereotypes and pay particular attention to the need to facilitate the access of skilled workforce from third countries to the EU labour market and to activate more women and young people, who are not in education, employment or training for the labour market.
Amendment 1460 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 29 – paragraph 7 a (new)
Article 29 – paragraph 7 a (new)
Amendment 1508 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 32 – paragraph 1
Article 32 – paragraph 1
The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 33 to amend the Annex of this Act as referred to in Article 3(1)(a), the modalities in which agreements between entities referred to in Article 18(1) and investments in storage capacity held by third parties are taken into account to meet their individual contribution set out in Article 18 (5), as well as the content of the reports referred to in Article 18 (6).
Amendment 1510 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 32 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 32 – paragraph 1 a (new)
With regards to delegated acts amending the Annex of this Act, the Commission shall annually review and, when necessary, update the Annex by issuing a delegated act. The first review of the Commission shall be issued by [1 year after the date of entry into force of this Regulation]. The Commission shall base its review and update on a recommendation issued by the Net-Zero Industry Expert Group as referred to in Article 29(7a).
Amendment 1530 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – table 1
Annex I – table 1
1. Solar photovoltaic and solar thermal technologies 2. Onshore wind and offshore renewable technologies 3. Battery/storage technologies 4. Heat pumps and geothermal energy technologies 5. Electrolysers and fuel cells 6. Sustainable biogas/biomethane technologies 7. Carbon Capture and storage (CCS)and sustainable alternative fuel technologies covered by the Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources 7. Carbon Capture and storage (CCS) and Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) technologies 8. Flexibility and Grid technologies 8a. Technologies to produce energy from nuclear processes and their related fuel cycle 8b. Renewable raw material technologies