Activities of Fiona HALL related to 2012/2259(INI)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT current challenges and opportunities for renewable energy in the European internal energy market PDF (304 KB) DOC (214 KB)
Amendments (45)
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the share in Europe's energy mix accounted for by renewable energy sources (RES) is growing in the short, medium and long term, and will result in renewables being the cornerstone of the EU's future energy system;
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
A a. whereas renewable energy offers a wide range of technologies providing energy services in the form of electricity, heating and cooling as well as transport solutions and thereby can play a significant role in diversifying our energy mix;
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas renewables meet all of the objectives of EU energy policy, which must, at all times, reflect a balance between the aims of supply security and economic and environmental viability;
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
B a. whereas the EU currently depends on energy imports for more than half of its final energy consumption;
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
B b. whereas Europe has a competitive advantage in renewables, which will strongly contribute to growth and job creation;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
E a. whereas the trajectory for meeting the 20% target as agreed in the Renewable Energy Directive gets steeper towards 2020;
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Agrees with the Commission that, in future, RES will RES, together with energy efficiency and flexible and smart infrastructure are the 'no regrets' options, and that RES will in the future account for a growing share of energy provision in Europe, both for electricity supply and for the heating and cooling and transport sectors, and that they will reduce Europe's dependence on conventional energy;
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Notes that renewables not only help address climate change, but offer additional environmental benefits compared to conventional fossil and nuclear plants, such as no NOx or SOx emissions, no other air pollutants such as sulphur dioxide or particles which have carcinogenic effects and severely affect human health, no problems related to long-term storage of waste or decommissioning of plant, little or no water use during operation, and zero fuel extraction;
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Acknowledges that Europe's 2050 decarbonisation goal for the power sector will only be met if a fossil fuel lock-in is avoided, and that a stable, ambitious and long-term renewable energy policy will help to avoid this;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1 c. Acknowledges the findings of the International Energy Agency that while specific renewable energy policies will have an additional short-term cost, the long-term costs of such policies are lower than when relying solely on carbon pricing because they enable a timely scale-up of a sufficiently broad portfolio of renewable energy technologies to ensure that the power sector is fully decarbonised by 2050 at the lowest cost;
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Emphasises that secure, affordable and environmentally sound energy provision is indispensable for the competitiveness of European industry; emphasises, therefore, that the energy supply system needs to be overhauled and tin order to accommodate a substantially higher share of RES increased in a manner that is cost-efficient and without prejudice to supply security;
Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes that, in pursuit of their 2020 national targets set by the EU Renewable Energy Directive, the Member States are currently acting independently in the promotion of RES, within national administrative frameworks that differ widely, and that their potential for developing renewables is uneven on account of natural factorthereby exacerbating the uneven development of renewables;
Amendment 140 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Is concerned that, so far, onlyNotes that some of the renewables on the energy market are already economically competitive, althoughnd that certain other technologies are closing the gap with market prices, whereas the cost of conventional technologies is rising and fossil fuel prices are set to increase in the mid- to long-term; agrees with the Commission that all available means must be used to bring the costs of RES down and make RESthem economically competitive;
Amendment 148 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Notes that heating and cooling represents today more than 40% of the final energy consumption in Europe and that the share of renewables in final energy consumption of heating and cooling has been increasing, amounting to 12.47% of the EU27 gross final heating and cooling consumption in 2009; emphasises that more attention should be given to the untapped potential of renewable heating and cooling and its role in fostering sustainability, local growth and industrial competitiveness; calls on the European Commission to come forward with a thorough analysis and its subsequent next steps for supporting Member States to effectively and cost-efficiently harness the full potential of renewable heating and cooling;
Amendment 167 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes that the internal market in gas and electricity is, to be completed by 2014;, welcomes the Commission'sill be crucial for RES intengration to report in the near futureand serve as a cost-effective means of balancing variable electricity production; welcomes the Commission's report on the state of progress towards completion of the internal energy market;
Amendment 178 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Notes that the existence within the Union of approximately 170 different schemes for promoting RES gives rise to considerable inefficiencies in cross-border electricity trading because it reinforces and indeed aggravates inequalities, thuis the proof that national schemes are tailored to the different levels of maturity of different technologies and the still divergent features of national markets in terms of administrative and grid connection procedures, cost of capital and electricity market features; notes that structural market distortions such as fossil fuel subsidies, regulated energy prices and market concentration are still common in some Member States; stresses that addressing the above bottlenecks, developing intra-day electricity market to trade closer to real time, and developing markets wforking against balancing and grid support services is paramount to RES integration and their completion oftiveness in the internal energy market;
Amendment 190 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Notes that those who will benefit most from completion of the internal energy market are the consumers; supports the Commission's view that competition needs to extend to renewables as wellall energy sources as other energy sourcesy mature because it is the best stimulus to advances in innovation and price reductions;
Amendment 198 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Notes with concern that the cooperation mechanisms introduced by Directive 2009/28/EC have, to date, scarcely been used but that a number of cooperation schemes are now being planned; points to the Commission's findings indicating that better use of the existing scope for cooperation would bring considerable benefits; welcomes the Commission's declared intention to draw up guidelines on cooperation within the EU; calls on the Member States to make better use of the scope for cooperation and to develop communication between one another;
Amendment 206 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Emphasises that RES must be fulprogressively integrated into the European internal energy market in all the Member States without delay and that in the long term they mustto the extent that their maturity and degree of liberalisation of national energy markets allows, and that in the long term different types of RES can take on stabilising functions and tasks within the system that have previously been performed by conventional energy sources in accordance with their intrinsic characteristics and capabilities;
Amendment 237 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Notes that, in order to guarantee supply security, the development of RES with fluctuating feed-in will necessitate reserves of conventional energy not previously availablvariable output will necessitate further balancing power, which can be provided by cross-border trading, flexible power plants, demand side management and energy storage; recognises that the development of reserve capacity entails substantial costs and that, to make the development or retention of conventional f more cost-effective means of balancing such as increaserves more commercially attractive, it will increasingly need tod cross-border trading by means of better interconnection should be promoted; rejects the concept of competition for subsidies and calls for the principles of the market economy to be applied to the design of the energy market;
Amendment 243 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12 a. Emphasises the importance to the cost-efficient deployment of renewables of a supergrid and of the North Sea offshore grid; highlights in this regard the importance of the North Sea Countries' Offshore Grid Initiative (NSCOGI), at a time when over 140 GW of offshore wind projects have been announced; calls on Member States and the Commission to give additional impetus to NSCOGI;
Amendment 244 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12 b. Calls on the Commission to assess whether there is a capacity issue in the EU and what the amount of firm capacity that can be provided by variable RES in an integrated EU power system is, as well as its potential positive impact on generation adequacy; calls on ENTSO-E to develop and implement a methodology to assess the firm capacity of variable RES and take it into account in its subsequent System Outlook and Adequacy Forecast;
Amendment 249 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Emphasises that according a large share of the energy mix to RES entails major challenges for existing network infrastructure; notes that, in certain Member States, supply security is being severely affected by the increased feed-in from RES; is concerned by because of the inadequate grid infrastructure; notes the finding by the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO- E) that 8less than 50% of all the bottlenecks in European energy grids relate directly or indirectly to feed-in from RES, while RES have constituted more than 50% of the installed capacity since 2000; notes that the upgrade of European grids is primarily made necessary because of the creation of a single electricity market and the need to ensure an increased security of supply, and that the benefits of upgrading the European grid will offset its costs by offering a much more efficient operation of EU's power system;
Amendment 259 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Notes that many of the best and most competitive locations for RES in the EU are at a considerable distance from the centres of energy consumption; notes that the use of such locations is contingent on the development of transmission systems; emphasizes the cost-effectiveness of an integrated approach to the energy system, involving a view covering both heat and electricity demand and supply;
Amendment 270 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Notes that the development of RES on a major scale, with their remote and weather-dependent feed-in, canmight cause uncoordinated cross-border energy flows (loop flows) in other Member States – making load reduction increasingly necessary in the interests of supply security – if it does not go hand-in-hand with the requisite development of the grid and better coordination between system operators; is concerned about the state of development of grid infrastructure in the Member States;
Amendment 323 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Emphasises that the further development of RES will entail permanent landscape change in Europe; points out that the only way to win public acceptance of RES is through transparent planning, construction and licensing procedures, in which all the stakeholders are involved, as well as through increased communication about the benefits of RES for local economies;
Amendment 342 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Recognises that world markets for RES are growing and that this will have a positive impact on prices and on the further development of existing technologies; stresses the importance of Europe continuing to lead this global trend;
Amendment 349 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Emphasises that the unlawful distortion of competition on the market is unacceptable; calls on the Commission to bring ongoing competition proceedings to a conclusion as quickly as possible; emphasises that the best conditions for the growth of RES are offered by free global markets; underscorlines the need to do more to dismantle barriers to trade such as local content requirements; calls on the Commission not to create any new obstacles to trade in finished products or components used in renewable energy technologies;
Amendment 358 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Underscorlines the need for closer cooperation on energy policy with the EU's neighbouring countries; emphasises that in the Mediterranean region, in particular, there is great potential for electricity generation from RES; highlights the potential of projects such as Desertec und Helios, and of the further development of hydropower in Norway and Switzerland (including pumped storage to balance RES);
Amendment 368 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Notes that Europe is in the vanguard when it comes to RES technology; emphasises that this is particularly due to the contribution of SMEs; stresses that only innovation, based on R&D, can secure Europe's leading position in RES technology markets; stresses that, given the current lack of public R&D finance for renewable energy, the best way to promote innovation is to ensure long-term certainty for private investors;
Amendment 385 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Welcomes the Commission's announcement that it will issue a communication on energy technology policy in 2013; calls on the Commission to include a focus onfocus on implementing the Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan and to include storage technologies;
Amendment 392 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24 a. Notes that the Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan has led to the launch of renewable Industrial Initiatives, which have elaborated clear and detailed R&D roadmaps; insists on the importance of including other innovative renewable energy technologies such as marine and tidal and to finance such initiatives through dedicated budget lines created under the SET-Plan budget;
Amendment 393 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 b (new)
Paragraph 24 b (new)
24 b. Calls on the European Commission to develop an industrial strategy for renewable energy, particularly for the wind sector, including the relevant actors (industry and government) at regional and local level; calls for such a strategy to build on the existing public and private commitments on technology innovation, supply chain bottlenecks and financing, so that the newly created economic opportunities are long-term and Europe maintains its global leadership in this sector;
Amendment 397 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 6
Subheading 6
Amendment 403 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Emphasises that the Member States currently use almost 170 different types of promotion mechanism; points out that this support has lead to healthy growth but that some of the promotion systems are support systems have been badly designed, leading to overy- costly and thatmpensation, and, in some cases, a considerable financial burden has been placed on consumers without their having had a choice in the matter; notes that, despite the subsidies,; notes that investments spurred by well-designed support mechanisms help drive costs down; stresses that such support schemes are making RES havmore managed to becomd more competitive vis-à-vis conventional methods of energy production only in certa, in particular in areas, e.g. where the geographical and market conditions favour them;
Amendment 407 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25 a. Calls on Member States to keep on track on the road to meeting their 2020 targets; is concerned by abrupt changes in national support mechanisms for renewable energy, in particular by retroactive changes or freezes in support; calls on the Commission to carefully monitor the implementation of the Renewable Energy Directive and to take action if necessary; calls on Member States to provide stable frameworks for investment in renewable energy, including regularly reviewed support schemes and streamlined administrative procedures;
Amendment 409 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 b (new)
Paragraph 25 b (new)
25 b. Notes that because many EU power plants will need to be decommissioned or upgraded in the coming 10 years, energy prices are set to rise no matter what the energy mix is; emphasises that some renewables such as onshore wind and solar PV are already competitive on costs compared to nuclear and CCS which makes them the most cost-effective option for decarbonisation; notes that increases in energy bills should first and foremost be tackled by energy efficiency and saving measures;
Amendment 419 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Emphasises that state influence hasand the volatility of global oil and gas prices have had the effect of making the price of electricity to consumers and industry in certain Member States relatively high; Ppoints out that, in 2010, 22% of households in the EU were worried about being able to meet their electricity bills and assumes that the situation in this regard has since worsened; stresses that energy poverty must be prevented and that industry's ability to compete must not be affected;
Amendment 437 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Welcomes the Commission's declared intention to draw up guidelines on good practice and the reform of national support arrangements; calls on the Commission to produce the guidelines as soon as possible but is convinced that good-practice guidelines are only a first step and that efforts need to be directed at winding down the national support systems, although they must not bein order to avoid excessive subsidy and ensure comparability, better coordination and progressive convergence between national support mechanisms, while avoiding retrospectively amendedments or cancelled because that wouldations which send out disastrous signals to investors;
Amendment 446 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28 a. Believes that easier access to capital will further contribute to the competitiveness of renewable energy; recognises that long-term certainty and a 2030 target for renewable energy would be the best way to give investors the necessary confidence and reduce investor risk; invites the Commission to develop innovative finance instruments and give an increased role to the European Investment Bank, national financing institutions and long-term liability institutions such as pension funds and insurance companies in funding renewable energy projects;
Amendment 450 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 6 a (new) (after Paragraph 28)
Subheading 6 a (new) (after Paragraph 28)
A post-2020 framework for renewable energy
Amendment 456 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Is convinced that onlyAsks the Commission to assess, in the context of a post-2020 legislative framework based on ambitious and binding renewable energy targets, whether an EU-wide system for promoting RES willould offer thea mostre cost-effective framework in which their full potential canould be realised; sees decisive advantages innotes that a technology- neutral European market for renewables, in which producers will have to cover a pre-determined quota of their energy output from RES, and in which one of the ways of reaching that quota will be through the trading of certificates on a market established for that purpose; notes the evidence of experience in the Member States that, in order to ensure quotas are met, heavy fines must be imposed for failure to meet thempolicy based on a GHG emission target only would only promote the cheapest technologies at the detriment of innovation and of meeting Europe's long-term climate and energy goals;
Amendment 488 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Calls on the Commission to bring forward, without delay, ain the context of its 2014 revision of the cooperation mechanisms, proposals for a European support system in which a market for renewable-energy certificates will make for EU-wide competition among the various technologiesvoluntary regional support systems, for example for the North Sea offshore basin;
Amendment 496 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30 a. Welcomes the findings in the Commission's impact assessment that a post-2020 framework based on binding national targets and a more coordinated approach would deliver greater economic activity related to RES, less fossil fuel imports, more innovation for all technologies, more jobs and competitiveness in the long run; calls on the Commission to make an ambitious and binding EU 2030 target for renewable energy the cornerstone of a post-2020 legislative framework for renewable energy;
Amendment 502 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 b (new)
Paragraph 30 b (new)
30 b. Shares the Commission's concern that the strong annual growth in renewables, driven by the targets up to 2020, could slump from 6% to 1% if business as usual is pursued after 2020;