Activities of Mauri PEKKARINEN related to 2020/2241(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
A European strategy for energy system integration – A European strategy for hydrogen (debate)
Amendments (48)
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 15 a (new)
Citation 15 a (new)
- having regard to the Commission communication of 19 November 2020 entitled 'an EU Strategy to harness the potential of offshore renewable energy for a climate-neutral future' (COM(2020)741),
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission have endorsed the goal of a climate-neutral economy by 2050, in line with the Paris Agreement;
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the Commission has proposed a common greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction objective of at least 55% by 2050, while the Parliament has endorsed the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 60% by 2030;
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
B b. whereas 70% of the primary energy used in the EU came from fossil fuels (oil, natural gas and coal) in 20174b; _________________ 4b Eurostat
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B c (new)
Recital B c (new)
B c. whereas the International Energy Agency estimates that approximately one third of the global methane emissions come from the energy sector;
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
C b. whereas the twin green and digital transition of the energy networks will require unprecedented public and private investments in infrastructure modernisation and new infrastructure deployment when necessary, as well as investments in buildings renovation, and research and development;
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
D a. whereas the COVID-19 crisis has shown that it is crucial to be able to rely on a safe and flexible energy system;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Supports the direction set out by the Commission in its Communication on a strategy for energy system integration; calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure that it is implemented rapidly in a spirit of solidarity; encouragesunderlines that the private sector to contribute towill play a key role in its success;
Amendment 69 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Recalls the importance of taking into account the diversity of national energy systems and challenges; encourages the Commission to maintain an approach that is as neutral as possible to allow each Member State to use the most efficient decarbonisation solutions according to their needs and resources;
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Reiterates its support for the energy efficiency first principle and recalls that the most sustainable energy is the energy whichthat is not consumed;
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Deplores the insufficient progress made by Member States, as set out on energy efficiency and renovation, as presented in the 2020 Energy Efficiency Progress Report; encourages the Commission to propose more ambitious targetstakes note of the decision of the Commission to revise Directive (EU) 2018/2002 on Energy Efficiency, taking into account its recommendations as part of the Energy Union governance process; welcomes, in this regard, the renovation wave strategy and the upcoming revision of Directive (EU) 2018/844 on the Energy Performance of Buildings;
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on the Commission to extend the principle of energy efficiency to the entire value chain and to all end-uses; underlines the potential of circularity and reuse of waste, energy and waste heat from industrial processes, buildings and data centres; draws attention to the modernisation of heat networks, which can play a significant role in heat decarbonisation; stresses the potential of digital tools for smart energy managementcalls on the Commission to propose concrete initiatives to reduce energy losses along the transmission and distribution networks, through the revision of Regulation (EU) 347/2013 on a trans- European energy infrastructure and Regulation (EU) 2017/1938 on the security of gas supply;
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Welcomes the new EU Methane Strategy; recalls that it is essential to rapidly deploy methane emissions monitoring systems, relying on satellite observation technologies such as the ones developed through the Copernicus programme; welcomes the private initiatives undertaken to reduce methane emissions, such as the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership and the Methane Guiding Principles;
Amendment 108 #
5 b. Calls on the Commission to propose measures to further reduce methane emissions in the energy sector, starting with introducing a binding methane intensity reduction objective of 0.2% by 2025 for all gases sold within the EU in Directive (EU) 2019/692 on the internal market for natural gas; welcomes the Commission’s proposal to make Measuring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) and Leak Detection And Repair (LDAR) mandatory;
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5 c. Underlines the potential of circular economy solutions to reduce final energy demand, such as the reuse of waste, energy and waste heat from industrial processes, buildings and data centres; calls on the Commission to propose measures to incentivise the reuse of waste energy and heat in the revision of Directive 2008/98/EC on waste reduction; underlines that sustainably produced biogas, including biomethane, can help reuse waste stemming from agriculture, food consumption and forestry;
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 d (new)
Paragraph 5 d (new)
5 d. Draws attention to the challenge of decarbonising heating and cooling; highlights the potential of modern, low- temperature district heating networks supplied by renewable, carbon-free and low-carbon energy; notes that they can play a significant role in cost-efficient heat decarbonisation in urban and industrial areas;
Amendment 111 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 e (new)
Paragraph 5 e (new)
5 e. Stresses the potential of digital tools for smart energy management, which can also reduce energy demand in a cost-efficient way; welcomes the ongoing revision of the secondary legislation on energy labelling and ecodesign of space and water heaters and coolers;
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Highlights the importance of assessing ex-ante and anticipating the need for new energy production, transmission, distribution and conversion infrastructure in order to optimise its usethe energy system in a climate- neutral economy and towhile ensureing its economic viability; underlines the importance of observing the principle of technology neutrality, as most of the technologies that will be needed in the foreseeable future still require investments in research and development;
Amendment 129 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Welcomes the publication of the new EU Strategy on Offshore Renewable Energy; stresses that the rapid development of offshore energy islands is crucial to achieve our renewable energy capacity objective by 2030; to this end, calls for a comprehensive revision of the EU legislation on energy infrastructure and a targeted revision of the relevant State Aid guidelines;
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls on the Commission to use the revision of Regulation (EU) No 347/2013 on a trans-European energy infrastructure as an opportunity to include decarbonisation, digitalisation and energy system integration in the Regulation’s objectives and the 10-year network development planning; stresses that investments to digitalise existing infrastructure can significantly improve its management through the use of digital twins, algorithms or Artificial Intelligence; supports the widening of the scope of the Regulation to energy infrastructure such as storage, hydrogen and CO2 infrastructure; calls for an integrated, coordinated network plan that includes progressively all energy carriers and infrastructure;
Amendment 142 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Calls for the mass deployment of renewable and decarbonised energy; encourages the Commission to proposeassess the feasibility of advancing more ambitious targets in order to increase the share of such energy in electricity generation, heavy industry, transport, construction, heating and cooling in the revision of Directive (EU) 2018/2001 on the promotion of renewable energy;
Amendment 147 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Recognises the progress achieved so far in integrating the EU's energy markets with those of the Energy Community Contracting Parties; highlights the importance of promoting cooperation on renewable energy; stresses the need to strengthen cross-border cooperation mechanisms in the upcoming revision of Directive (EU) 2018/2001 on the promotion of renewable energy, and the need to further remove barriers to the recognition and the trading of guarantees of origin;
Amendment 153 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Welcomes the adoption of the European Hydrogen Strategy; is convinced that hydrogen produced from renewable and decarbonised hydrogenelectricity can help reduce persistent emissions from industrial processes and heavy transport which cannot be decarbonised through the use of zero-carbon electricity; recalls also the need to decarbonise existing hydrogen productiodirect use of electricity; notes that renewable hydrogen must be deployed along with increased renewable electricity capacity in the EU; stresses that fossil-based low- carbon hydrogen can play a transitional role in supporting the expansion of hydrogen applications and demand; recalls the need to decarbonise existing hydrogen production; supports the launch of Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI) on hydrogen;
Amendment 165 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Notes that renewable, carbon-free or low-carbon hydrogen can be converted to other types of gases, such as methanol or ammonia, which can be used as fuel for heavy-duty transport;
Amendment 166 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10 b. Calls on the Commission to elaborate a clear common terminology for hydrogen, based on the GHG emission reduction on the life cycle compared to the fossil equivalent, according to the approach set out by Article 25(2) of Directive (UE) 2018/2001 on the promotion of renewable energy;
Amendment 170 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls on the Commission to extend the obligation laid down in Directive (EU) 2018/2001 for Member States to issue guarantees of origin for low- and zero- carbon gases and for renewablespropose a common certification system for gases in Directive (EU) 2018/2001 on the promotion of renewable energy, starting with the obligation for Member States to issue guarantees of origin for renewable, carbon-free and low-carbon gases; encourages Member States to reduce the administrative burden related to certification of energy;
Amendment 178 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Stresses the need to accelerate research and development on technologies for CO2 capture, storage and reuse; underlines the importance of guaranteeing safe storage for CO2 and incentivising the reuse of CO2, in line with the idea of circularity; notes that the economic viability of these technologies will largely depend on the price of CO2 quotas under the Emissions Trading Scheme;
Amendment 185 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls on the Commission to propose ambitious targets for the decarbonisation of road, maritime, rail and air transport; welcomes the Commission’s announcement of the deployment of one million charging points for electric vehicles; stresses the need to adapt the electrification networks for Europe’s vehicle fleet in the revision of Directive 2014/94/EU on deployment of alternative refuelling infrastructure; stresses the need to adapt the electrification networks for Europe’s vehicle fleet; underlines the potential for internal cooperation on the decarbonisation of transport across borders; highlights in this respect the critical role of the Transport Community to create synergies with neighbouring countries and accelerate the transfer of EU standards on transport emissions;
Amendment 205 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14 a. Stresses that interconnections are more important than ever to ensure the transport of renewable energy to the areas where demand will be the strongest and balance the energy system as a whole; stresses the need to implement the obligation to use a minimum of 70% of the existing interconnection capacity set out by Article16(8) of Regulation (EU) 2019/943 on the internal electricity market;
Amendment 210 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14 b. Regrets that a number of Member States have not yet reached their 10% electric interconnection target by 2020; calls on the Commission to better support national investments through the list of Projects of Common Interest; encourages the Commission to relaunch the work of the expert group on interconnection targets;
Amendment 214 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Highlights the need to reduce regulatory barriers, improve access to capital and further support energy storage projects along transmission and distributiReiterates that the European energy storage capacity is an essential source of flexibility; highlights the need to reduce regulatory barriers to the installation of storage equipment; calls on the Commission to assess how to eliminate the potential double taxation on storage projects in its forthcoming revision of Directive 2003/96/EC on Enetworks and at consumption sitesrgy Taxation;
Amendment 218 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15 a. Calls on Member States to improve access to capital for all energy storage projects, with an emphasis on the modernisation of existing infrastructure; calls on the Commission to further take into consideration the need for deployment of storage infrastructure in the next list of Project of Common Interest and in the revision of the Guidelines on State aid for environmental protection and energy;
Amendment 220 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15 b. Stresses the need to maintain a technology-neutral approach on sustainable storage; nevertheless, notes with concern the large dependence of the EU on imports of lithium-ion batteries; welcomes therefore the approach identified in the strategic action plan for batteries, notably the diversification of sources of raw materials, the full use of the EU trade policy to ensure sustainable and secure supply, and the development of incentives for circularity, as well as the establishment of the European Battery Alliance;
Amendment 229 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Recalliterates the role that green hydrogenPower-to-X technologies can play in balancing grids by using any, in particular by storing surplus renewable electricity production;
Amendment 232 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16 a. Stresses that there are various cost-efficient economic models for production, transport and consumption of hydrogen; calls on the Commission to consider this diversity of needs in its forthcoming legislative proposals; calls on the Commission to guarantee a fair and efficient competition between hydrogen that is imported from international partners and hydrogen that is produced in the EU;
Amendment 239 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Recalls the importance of interconnectors and cooperation between network operators; welcomes the establishment of regional coordination centres under Regulation (EU) 2019/943 on the internal market for electricity;
Amendment 248 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Calls on the Commission to explore ways tof further encouraginge the development of a European market for demand-side flexibility; calls for the swift implementation of Directive (EU) 2019/944 on the internal market for electricity and its provisions on demand- side response;
Amendment 252 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18 a. Underlines the storage and flexibility potential of the deployment of 'vehicle-to-grid' technologies and notes that it will require the interoperability of energy systems and electric vehicles;
Amendment 255 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Stresses that a more decentralised and better integrated energy system requires better forecasting of energy demand; highlights, in this regard, the crucial role of statistical and meteorological data; calls on the Commission and the Member States to develop an internal market for digital energy technologies; stresses that this will require more common standards for data exchange; underlines the growing need to ensure data privacy and cybersecurity in an increasingly smart energy system;
Amendment 258 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19 a. Reiterates the crucial role of the Agency for Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) in the energy system integration and the implementation of the EU energy legislation; calls on the Commission and Member States to make sure that the agency is provided with sufficient means to carry out its missions;
Amendment 274 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20 a. Welcomes the initiative to revise Directive 2003/96/EC on Energy Taxation; calls on the Commission and Member States to integrate the climate objectives to this Directive; stresses the need to revise its scope and differentiate fossil gases and fuels from renewable, carbon-free or low-carbon gases and fuels to incentivise the development of decarbonised alternatives;
Amendment 297 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Recalls that one of the objectives of the Energy Union is to reduce our import dependency; calls for the EU to learn from the current economic crisis and work towards more autonomy in strategic value chains; considers that the creation of synergies can help achieve this objective;
Amendment 306 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Stresses the importance of increasing the competitiveness of European technologies to ensure the autonomy of the Union in the strategic energy sector; calls on the Commission to support research and innovation through the various structural and sectoral funds; recalls the Union’s global leadership in satellite emission measurement technologies; , and in particular the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service; recalls the expertise of the European Centre for Medium- Range Weather Forecasts in predicting weather and therefore anticipating fluctuations in the energy demand;
Amendment 309 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24 a. Notes with concern that the conclusions of the 2020 Report on the State of the Energy Union highlight a decrease in research and innovation investments in clean energy technologies; reiterates the crucial role of the EU support for research and innovation, and particularly disruptive innovation; welcomes the increased budget for research in the Horizon Europe programme that was voted by the European Parliament, and the establishment of the European Research Area;
Amendment 311 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 b (new)
Paragraph 24 b (new)
24 b. Highlights the value of the well- established European expertise on energy system integration, and calls on Member States to value this expertise and help transfer it the from the fossil energy sector to the renewable and low-carbon energy sectors;
Amendment 315 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Welcomes the initiatives undertaken for strategic value chains; calls for the establishment of an alliance for decarbonised energy technologies; calls on the Commission to encourage the participation of SMEs in theseEU alliances in order to involve more Member States;