Combined heat and power, CHP: Community strategy

The committee unanimously adopted the draft resolution on the Commission White Paper on combined heat and power with one abstention. While agreeing with the content of the basic proposal to promote combined heat and power, the rapporteur, Mrs Maria-Teresa Estevan Bolea (PPE, E), wished to see the current proportion of combined heat and power generated in the Union increased to at least 25%, rather than doubled (i.e. from 9% to 18% by 2010), as proposed by the Commission. The draft resolution adopted also proposed taking account of the contribution of combined heat and power to meeting the Kyoto commitments on climate change, especially when setting national targets. Parliament calls in the draft for concrete proposals from the Commission so that Community measures geared to sustainable development include improving energy efficiency and, with regard to structural funds and cooperation appropriations for third countries, for the Commission to promote energy efficiency by favouring projects to fund combined heat and power and renewable energy installations in Objective 1 regions and third countries. Finally, the Commission should encourage electricity system operators to give priority to electricity produced in seawater desalination plants which use combined cycles for combined heat and steam cogeneration.�