Linz – Energy Ministers from twenty-five European countries have agreed to promote hydrogen produced from renewable energies through a new initiative, which will support hydrogen as a zero-emissions substitute for fossil fuels. The Hydrogen Initiative is supported by Switzerland, Iceland and all EU member states except Ireland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden and the UK. The initiative is…
Strasbourg – Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has faced criticism for his ‘timid’ State of the European Union speech by MEPs who felt that it did not contain enough ambition on environmental and climate change policies. The speech came two days after Climate and Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete claimed that the EU would aim to surpass…
Brussels – The European Commission has postponed an expected vote on its energy labelling package, delaying roll-out of the scheme, which was agreed last year by the European institutions. In 2017 the institutions agreed to maintain the energy labelling system and revert to an A to G scale, as the current A+++ to G scale was…
Brussels – At the request of the European Council and European Parliament, the European Commission is to devise a long-term climate plan for net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, to be published before the COP24 climate talks, to be held in December. The plan will not set binding targets, or contain any legislative proposals, but…
Brussels – Europe will be powered by at least 32% renewable energy in 2030 according to new binding targets agreed by EU member states within the updated Renewable Energy Directive (REDII). The agreement marks the end of long and sometimes fractious negotiation which successfully raised ambition from a 27% target proposed by member states. A review…
Brussels – The European Commission has published its budget proposal for the period 2021-2027, including a request for €100 billion for Horizon Europe, the follow-up to Horizon 2020. The proposal looks to increase the EU’s budget to 1.11% of the EU27’s Gross National Income (GNI), up slightly from 1.03% of the EU28 GNI for 2014-2020. It…
Brussels – The European Council signed off on its position on the recast of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) on 14 May, paving the way for its formal signature, and adoption into European law. The legislation will replace the 2010 EPBD, with more stringent requirements for buildings. The building sector is the largest energy…
Brussels – Key parts of the EU’s Circular Economy Package got the go-ahead this week as the European Parliament secured agreements on waste and recycling. The agreements establish binding waste reduction targets and updated rules to decrease waste generation, ensure a better control of waste management, encourage the reuse of products and improve recycling in…
Brussels – The establishment of a Joint European Disruptive Initiative (JEDI) to rapidly accelerate the development of emerging technologies is at an ‘advanced’ stage, according to officials behind the project. The initiative is modelled on the US DARPA agency and will fund projects that develop operational prototypes in short timescales, with projects lasting no more than two…
Brussels – European Commission DG Research & Innovation has published a new report by Professor Mariana Mazzucato (University College London) which advocates for mission-oriented research & innovation (R&I) to enable science to answer societal challenges. The report argues that since Europe is facing significant challenges, new forms of collaboration and intervention are required, with participants applying…
Brussels – European Commission Directorate General for Research and Innovation has issued a new report on research and innovation (R&I) potentials of the mid- and long-term potential for advanced biofuels. The report examines the R&I potentials for feedstock production, advanced biofuels production, and the use of advanced biofuels. The study had three main aims: Assessing the…
Brussels – The European Parliament has passed a new law to strengthen the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), to withdraw some allowances on the ETS Carbon Market, and introduce new funds to foster innovation and support the low carbon transition. The law, which already has the informal agreement of the Council of the EU, will see industrial…
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