Promotion of cogeneration based on a useful heat demand in the internal energy market

The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Norbert GLANTE (PES, Germany) and made several amendments to the Commission's proposal. (Please see the summary dated 23/04/03.) In addition: - the definition of cogeneration is amended to mean the transformation of input energy simultaneously into mechanical or electrical energy and useful heat in a technical installation. There is no division into the three classes of industrial, heating and agricultural cogeneration; - Parliament inserted a definition of "micro-cogeneration" and stated that the in-depth analysis required will not apply to micro-cogeneration since the latter is regarded as an efficient process; - Member States and their regional and local planning authorities must incorporate within their planning guidelines a requirement to consider the scope for developing district heating networks with a view to utilising the useful heating production of cogeneration units and evaluating the viability of cogeneration; - Member States must ensure that support for cogeneration is provided in a non-discriminatory way, irrespective of operators and of the use of electricity, mechanical energy or heat generated in the cogeneration installation.�