European Union News - Energy

19 winners in 10 EU countries are 2012's winners of the energy efficiency awards for buildings and lighting (GreenBuilding and GreenLight). These awards, managed by the Joint Research Centre, promote the reduction of energy consumption by public and private organisations on a voluntary basis.

The EU High Representative Catherine Ashton announced the EU decision to postpone the EU-Argentina joint Cooperation Committee meeting scheduled on 20 of April following the Argentina's decision to expropriate the majority stake held by Repsol in YPF.

The European Commission presented a new initiative to help achieve energy access for an additional 500 million people in developing countries by 2030. The proposal includes a new EU Technical Assistance Facility worth €50 million over the next two years, which will support those developing partners that "opt in" to the initiative by providing EU expertise in the field.

According to an Eurobarometer survey, nine out of ten EU citizens want the EU to help people in developing countries to gain access to energy. 82% also think that the percentage of EU development aid that is spent on improving energy access should be higher than its current level of 2%.

The Joint Research Centre and University College Cork (Ireland) published a joint study which includes their findings on a new methodology to assess the pumped hydropower storage (PHS) which is currently the only widespread, large-scale electricity storage technology. The study also provides case studies for Croatia and Turkey.

The agreement signed by the European Investment Bank and Gas Natural Fenosa is the second instalment of a total €500 million loan. With this agreement, the company will develop actions to spread its distribution network across 11 Spanish regions, with 59% located in convergence regions.

The non-binding resolution now adopted by the European Parliament calls for an in increase of the CO2 emissions reduction for 2050 to make the EU economy more competitive and dramatically less dependent on fossil fuels. This resolution sets a policy framework for the European Union to achieve an 80-95% reduction in its CO2 emissions by 2050.

After the disaster the Fukushima accident that happened one year ago in Japan, 14 Member States that operate nuclear power plants decided to take critical look at its nuclear power production. For the time being, there have been done two of the three phases to complete the stress tests. In addition, the Commission is reviewing the EU legal framework in order to ensure and continuously improving nuclear safety.

The Committee on Industry, Research and Energy approved a series of binding measures to help implement the overall 20% target. MEPs want Member States to make concrete plans for achieving energy savings of 80% in the buildings sector by 2050.