5 Amendments of Sir Graham WATSON related to 2011/0401(COD)
Amendment 1440 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex 1 – Part 3 – point 3 – point 3.1 – paragraph 2
Annex 1 – Part 3 – point 3 – point 3.1 – paragraph 2
The Union intends to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20 % below 1990 levels by 2020, with a further reduction to 80-95 % by 2050. In addition, renewables should cover 20 % of final energy consumption in 2020 coupled with a 20 % energy efficiency target. By 2050 greenhouse gas emission reductions of 80-95% should be achieved. All decarbonisation scenarios in the Energy Roadmap 2050 show that renewable energy technologies will by the middle of this century account for the biggest share of energy supply technologies. This must be accompanied by an ambitious energy efficiency policy as the most cost-effective way of reaching our long-term decarbonisation goals. It is therefore appropriate for three quarters of the budget under this Challenge to go towards research and innovation in renewable energy and energy efficiency. Achieving these objectives will require an overhaul of the energy system combining low carbon profilethe development of alternatives to fossil fuels, energy security and affordability, while at the same time reinforcing Europe's economic competitiveness. Europe is currently far from this overall goal. 80 % of the European energy system still relies on fossil fuels, and the sector produces 80 % of all the Union's greenhouse gas emissions. Every year 2.5 % of the Union's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is spent on energy imports and this is likely to increase. This trend would lead to total dependence on oil and gas imports by 2050. Faced with volatile energy prices on the world market, coupled with concerns over security of supply, European industries and consumers are spending an increasing share of their income on energy.
Amendment 1467 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex 1 – Part 3 – point 3 – point 3.2 – paragraph 1
Annex 1 – Part 3 – point 3 – point 3.2 – paragraph 1
New technologies and solutions must compete oin cost and reliability against highly optimised energy systems wienergy systems designed for historic incumbents and technologies which have absorbed the vast majority of the well- established incumbents and technologiesorld and Europe's research funding and subsidies to this date. Research and innovation are critical to make these new, cleaner, low-carbon, more efficient energy sources commercially attractive on the scale needed, funding for research and development of fossil fuel technologies is therefore not eligible under this societal challenge. Neither industry alone, nor Member States individually, are able to bear the costs and risks, for which the main drivers (transition to a low carbon economy, providing affordable and secure energy) are outside the market.
Amendment 1481 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex 1 – Part 3 – point 3 – point 3.2 – paragraph 5 a (new)
Annex 1 – Part 3 – point 3 – point 3.2 – paragraph 5 a (new)
The description "low-carbon" is subjective and will refer to an ever lower emissions threshold as Europe makes progress towards decarbonising its economy. A quantitative definition consistent with the ambition of reducing emissions to between 80-95% of 1990 levels by 2050 will soon be needed. Nonetheless, already now, any proposed process, such as Carbon Capture and Usage (CCU), that uses fossil carbon and results in the net lifecycle emission of a significant proportion of that carbon to the atmosphere should be considered "high-carbon" and as such in conflict with the EU's climate policy, the SET Plan and Horizon 2020's objectives.
Amendment 1501 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex 1 – Part 3 – point 3 – point 3.3 – point b – paragraph 1
Annex 1 – Part 3 – point 3 – point 3.3 – point b – paragraph 1
Activities shall focus on research, development and full scale demonstration - of innovative renewables and carbon capture and storage technologies offering larger scale, lower cost, environmentally safe technologies which offer an alternative to fossil fuels with higher conversion efficiency and higher availability for different market and operating environments.
Amendment 1519 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex 1 – Part 3 – point 3 – point 3.3 – point d – paragraph 1
Annex 1 – Part 3 – point 3 – point 3.3 – point d – paragraph 1
Activities shall focus on research, development and full scale demonstration of new grid technologies, including storage, systems and market designs to plan, monitor, control and safely operate interoperable networks and balance an increasing renewables share in an open, decarbonised, climate resilient and competitive market, under normal and emergency conditions.