26 Amendments of Zigmantas BALČYTIS related to 2017/2084(INI)
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the EU’s energy policy and financing instruments should be designed to take full advantage of accelerating technical developments and should primarily focus on a gradual transition to a clean high- efficiency, low-emission systems and avoid setting technology- specific benchmarks that distort market mechanisms;
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the Communication setting the framework for accelerating the EU’s clean energy innovation; calls for an innovation regulatory and financing framework that is coherent with the EU energy and climate targets and that creates the conditions to achieve the ambition and priorities set in the legislative framework of the ‘Clean Energy for All Europeans package';
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Recognises that the successful deployment of energy innovation is a multidimensional challenge that encompasses supply chain, value chain, human capital, regulation, innovation and industrial policy issues; stresses that this challenge requires the engagement of citizens – consumers and prosumers – as well as a wide ecosystem of stakeholders, including academia, research and technology organisations (RTOs), start- ups, energy and construction companies, mobility providers, service suppliers, equipment manufacturers, IT and telecoms companies, financial institutions, public authorities at all levelEU and national authorities, including regional and local authorities, NGOs, educators and opinion leaders;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Considers that a cost-effective energy transition towards environmentally friendly, consumer-oriented and more digitalised, decentralised systems requires research and the deployment of innovation in all energy system sectors, including non-technology specific, with a priority for efficiency and renewable energies and systemic solutions; recognises that this transition is fostering new organisational models, particularly in energy generation, transmission, distribution and storage, business and needs management, as well as service provision; underlines the role that large-scale pilot projects can play in deploying systemic energy innovation;
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Recalls that energy efficiency should be a cross-cutting horizontal priority in the Research and innovation policy of the EU applying to all sectors and not limited to energy -related projects, promoting systematically and incentivising the production of more efficient less energy-consuming processes, services and goods;
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes that research and innovation in energy crucially depends on stable market and predictability and certainty of the regulatory framework, which require long-term policy vision, sustained targeted incentives and patient equity capital in order to attain the necessary critical mass for market deployment; welcomes the focus on key technologies, as confirmed in the Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET-Plan) and Commission communication; stresses, however, the need for greater prioritisation of cross- cutting, systemic innovation in energy, as innovation is not only technology-driven;
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Urges the Commission and the Member States to put in place mechanisms for coordinating EU and national research and energy innovation programmes and associated business models in order to foster synergies and avoid duplication, to ensure the most effective use of existing resources and infrastructure in all Member States, and to maximise the market uptake of new technologies and innovations across all EU regions; believes that including relevant information in national energy and climate plans could be conducive to that aim, best practices and information exchange should be promoted;
Amendment 78 #
6a. Calls on the Commission and Member States to develop national capacity building initiatives for innovation in energy sector business models and financial support schemes;
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Calls on the Commission to carry out an evaluation of the performance of its energy-related financial instruments and funds and to provide a ‘fast track’ response to improve the instruments if specific gridlocks, incoherencies or ameliorations are identified and adapt to the new energy EU targets;
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 – point b a (new)
Paragraph 9 – point b a (new)
(ba) incentivise public authorities at all levels to develop capital raising plans and incentivise clean energy innovation in order to foster investor trust and trigger the mobilisation of private capital;
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 – point d
Paragraph 9 – point d
(d) examine ways of drawing up innovation-friendly, streamlined and flexible rules for participation in FP9 and ESIF regulations, with the aim of better aligning them and avoid wasting resources of applicants and promote innovation excellence across all Europe;
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 – point d a (new)
Paragraph 9 – point d a (new)
(da) establish a mechanism with the aim to support a transnational energy start-up ecosystem, including an European incubator system in order to ensure that market introduction of energy innovation and business models overcome the “valley of death” in the innovation cycle;
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 – point d b (new)
Paragraph 9 – point d b (new)
(db) increase synergies with Horizon 2020 and other funding initiatives to strengthen the research and innovation capacity building for low performing regions in the EU;
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 – point f a (new)
Paragraph 9 – point f a (new)
(fa) identify ways of introducing into EU public procurement legislation incentives to promote innovative energy solutions in the public sector;
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Reiterates Parliament’s call for an increased overall budget of EUR 120 billion for FP9 and urges the Commission to increase by at least 50 % the proportion of clean energy-related financing under FP9 from the corresponding H2020 level, so as to ensure sufficient funding to support effective implementation of the Energy Union; calls in particular to reinforce the financial resources under FP9 to stimulate breakthrough, market creating-innovation initiatives, notably for SMEs;
Amendment 118 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Reiterates the need to improve the quality of investments financed by EFSI and to particularly focus on incentives for better geographical allocation taking into account the current imbalance in the geographical coverage of EFSI and the specific needs of less developed and transitional regions; recognises the need of a cooperation with national promotional investment banks, investment platforms and eligible financial intermediaries through a possible delegation of the use of the EU guarantee to them; calls to substantially reinforce the role and the capacity of the European Investment Advisory Hub, notably through a local presence and a proactive role in the preparation of projects;
Amendment 119 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11b. Believes that FP9 should support initiatives such as "100% renewable cities" involving cities and local administration aiming to substantially increase additional renewable energy capacity for electricity, mobility, heating and cooling in cities through innovation projects. Those initiatives could include smart grids, energy system management, activities to enable sector coupling and ensure electric vehicles etc.;
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Recognises the role of the SET- Plan, the Knowledge Innovation Community (KIC) InnoEnergy and the relevant Joint Technology Initiatives (JTIs) in driving energy innovation; stresses the need to better connect these various frameworks together with, inter alia, the InnovFin initiative, the EFSI and the proposed Pan-European Venture Capital Fund(s)-of-Funds programme (VC FoF) as part of a coordinated, focused investment strategy in clean energy innovation that would help early-stage projects and start- ups and SMEs effectively overcome the ‘valley of death’ and reach the market maturity levels needed for global expansion; considers that effective incentives for investment in energy innovation, by means of national investment funds and pension funds, could play a crucial role in mobilising the necessary equity capital;
Amendment 148 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to conduct a thorough examination of the patents registration procedures and requests the removal of unnecessary administrative burdens, which slow down the process of market penetration of innovative products and affect the EU’s role as a leader in the clean energy transition;
Amendment 153 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Believes that accelerating clean energy innovation requires Europeans to undergo a change in their mindset that would transcend simple awareness of energy issues and move towards a deeper understanding of the behavioural changes and, new consumption and production patterns needed to meet the pressing challenges of sustainable growth, so as to reap the advantages of the digital revolution and innovation in all fields and succeed in energy transition; notes that innovation can enable citizens to play a more active role in the energy generation, minimising energy feed-in to the grid as well contributing to more efficient use of energy by reducing energy consumption needed for heating and cooling;
Amendment 165 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Recognises the need for systemic education and engagement schemes designed to enable society to fully engage in the transformation of the energy system and enable Europeans of all ages to gradually progress from awareness and understanding to active involvement and taking a guidingmore empowered role; calls on the Commission, the Member States, local authorities and the private sector to promote conscious consumer choices and energy-related citizens’ engagement through, inter alia, EU-supported awareness campaigns, comprehensive information on energy bills and price comparison tools, the promotion of cooperative sharing schemes, participatory budgets for energy-related investments, tax and investment incentives, as well as by steering technological solutions and innovations;
Amendment 167 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Believes that innovation in clean energy will contribute to providing affordable energy supply to European consumers by helping them to enjoy lower energy tariffs, more control over their energy consumption and production and less energy-consuming products and services. Calls on the European Commission to identify the best innovative practices among Member States and other authorities that contribute to putting end to energy poverty;
Amendment 169 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)
Paragraph 19 b (new)
19b. Believes in the potential of innovation in clean energies and energy efficiency in creating new and better jobs. Considers that in order to manage a successful transition to a sustainable decarbonised economy, there is a need to ensure that labour markets can respond adequately to new demands of innovative clean energy systems. Call on the Commission to pay more attention in its R&D initiatives to the link between innovation in energy systems and new professional profiles, education needs, new jobs and training requirements;
Amendment 171 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Urges the Commission and the Member States to assist EU regionnational authorities including regional and local authorities in taking coordinated steps to incentivise energy innovation at local and trans- regional level with the aim of developing coherent strategies; calls on the Commission to assist accelerating the empowerment of local and regional authorities, to expedite the deployment of clean energy-related innovation, such as e-mobility and smart grids, but also depending on their level of maturity when it comes to the penetration of renewables in their energy system, and the challenges they are facing when attempting to push the energy transition further, such as citizens’ engagement; encourages the exchange of best practices, pooling of investments and better assessment of the bankability of projects and development of financing strategies, such as business cases, use of public procurement and loans;
Amendment 175 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Believes that the transport sector holds enormous potential and should play a vital role in the transition and encourages the Commission to support existing funding for electric vehicles infrastructure deployment; calls on the Commission to continue support and develop further initiatives such as the Europe-wide electromobility initiative and the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking;
Amendment 177 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)
Paragraph 20 b (new)
20b. Encourages the Commission to recognise the benefits of hydrogen mobility, as well as the sectorial coupling between the transport and the electricity sector and to create incentives for new business models in this direction, such as smart charging and vehicle to grid triggers, which would allow the owners of electric vehicles to sell flexibility to the power system; calls on the Commission to ensure financing of innovation aiming at development of hydrogen storage solution, advanced long-term storage solutions for electric vehicles, development of hydrogen charging infrastructure, as well as infrastructure and plug-in solutions, including charging infrastructure for electric vehicles; Encourages Member States and local authorities to take further initiatives such as fiscal incentives on market penetration of electric and hydrogen vehicles, on tax reductions and exemptions for the owners of electric and hydrogen vehicles, as well as divers initiatives in relation to the promotion of electric vehicles use such as price reductions, bonus payments and premiums for the buyers of electric vehicles, and creation of free parking spaces for electric vehicles;