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EPEE calls for EU to recognise other renewable heat sources |
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Monday, 19 May 2008 |
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EPEE urges MEPs and the Council to expand
the definition of renewable energy sources to ambient air, water and ground
sources in the draft EU law on the promotion of renewable energy sources.
Broadening the definition of renewable energy sources will help EU Member
States exploit the largely untapped potential of heat contained in ambient air,
water and soil.
The
primary technology to use these energy sources is heat pumps, and their use
will strongly benefit from the expanded definition of renewable energy sources
combined with the inclusion of heat pumps in the EU Directive. EPEE is pleased
to see that the technology of heat pumps has been included in the draft text.
Nonetheless, it notes the unfair treatment of ambient air heat pumps which have
to comply with the EU eco-labelling standards, whereas other kinds of heat
pumps, such as ground source heat pumps, do not have to meet these
requirements. EPEE urges decision makers to simplify the way the law applies to
heat pumps in order to ensure that
they are assessed with respect to their energy output only, and not on the
basis of the renewable energy source they use, reveals the organization’s press
release.
By simply ensuring that heat pumps are chosen on the basis of their performance, the EU will be able to guarantee maximum
benefits for the use of renewable
energy and ensure an easy to implement and flexible scheme, which is of key importance in this ever developing sector. EPEE Chairman Frans Hoorelbeke
commented: “Heat pumps, as a renewable energy technology with efficiency levels
of 300% and more, offer an optimal
choice for heating, in terms of
reduced carbon emissions, use of primary energy, or
lower operating costs for the
consumer. Heat pumps have the ability to offer space and domestic hot water
heating reliably during the whole year and even function when outdoor conditions are far below 0°C”.
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