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BRUSSELS, Belgium, November 30, 2005 (Refocus Weekly) The European Commission will have invested Euro 440 million into research for renewable energies over the course of its Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) between 2002 and 2006, and its proposal for FP7 is asking for Euro 2.93 billion for all energy sources.
There is broad agreement on the need for research to contribute to the development of renewables and to a reduction in the cost of renewable energy technologies which can meet the challenges of climate change and a secure energy supply, according to a conference on research into renewables in Europe. Continental institutions and industry stakeholders met in late November for a conference on research into renewables,
FP7 will have a a major role for Joint Technology Initiatives, which are the instruments used by the EC to accelerate development in key technologies through pan-European public-private partnerships, explained Pablo Fernandez Ruiz, the Director for Energy at DG Research. Hydrogen and fuel cells have been identified as areas to be supported, while specific program proposals explicitly mention renewables for a JTI to be set up during the implementation of FP7.
“Today's research policy provides the knowledge for tomorrow's energy policy; our long-term goal is a transformation of the current fossil-fuel based energy system into a more secure, energy-efficient and sustainable one,” he explained. “Enhancing our knowledge of renewable energy sources through research is an important step to achieving this goal as part of a sustainable energy mix.”
While the EC will have invested Euro 440 million into research for renewables during FP6, FP7 will run from 2007 to 2013 and will seek six times that level under the heading of 'energy' of the specific program on cooperation. There is potential for addressing the needs of renewables by issuing joint calls in the themes of ‘energy' and 'environment,’ he noted as an example.
A European Technology Platform currently is operating for solar PV and a similar transport platform for biofuels is under preparation. The wind and solar thermal power sectors are in the process of setting up ETPs,
The European Parliament called for specific programs of FP7 to include a substantial amount for research into renewables and energy efficiency in its resolution of September 29, explained Britta Thomsen of the Parliament's ITRE Committee on industry, trade and research. There should be some fixed budget set aside for research into renewables, which would help to convince industry to make long-term strategic investments, she added.
Pre-commercial testing is a dangerous stage for technology and interventions will be needed to help new technologies to bridge this 'valley of death' to reach the marketplace, added UK energy minister Malcolm Wicks. There are few greater challenges than ensuring that future energy supply is both secure and sustainable, and this will require changes in generation, transmission and consumption of energy.
FP7 is the EU's chief instrument for funding scientific research and technological development from 2007 to 2013, and is intended to be an important element to achieve the Lisbon agenda for growth and competitiveness. The proposals for FP7 were published in April and include Euro 2,931 for energy and 2,535 for environment (including climate change) out of a total budget of Euro 72,726. Research for nuclear fission and nuclear fusion is contained in a separate budget of Euro 3,092 for Euratom.
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