Energy consumption has increased rapidly during the last decades. Since 1870 the global population of mankind has quadrupled, whereas the world-wide energy consumption has increased by a factor of sixty.
The development of renewable energy - particularly energy from wind, water, solar power and biomass - is a central aim of the European Commission's energy policy.
Integration of renewable energy sources in Europe's energy mix can:
- reduce pollution
- enhance sustainability
- reduce dependence on imported energy sources
The European Commission proposed three main objectives in its recent GREEN PAPER, "A European Strategy for Sustainable, Competitive and Secure Energy", (8 March 2006). All three are clearly linked with clean energy production by promoting cutting edge energy technologies and the intergration of renewable energy in Europe's energy mix:
Sustainability
(i) developing competitive renewable sources of energy and other low
(ii) carbon energy sources and carriers, particularly alternative transport fuels,
(iii) curbing energy demand within Europe, and
(iv) leading global efforts to halt climate change and improve local air quality.
Competitiveness
(i) ensuring that energy market opening brings benefits to consumers and to the economy as a whole, while stimulating investment in clean energy production and energy efficiency,
(ii) mitigating the impact of higher international energy prices on the EU economy and its citizens, and
(iii) keeping Europe at the cutting edge of energy technologies.
Security of supply: tackling the EU’s rising dependence on imported energy through
(i) an integrated approach – reducing demand, diversifying the EU’s energy mix with greater use of competitive indigenous and renewable energy, and diversifying sources and routes of supply of imported energy,
(ii) creating the framework which will stimulate adequate investments to meet growing energy demand,
(iii) better equipping the EU to cope with emergencies,
(iv) improving the conditions for European companies seeking access to global resources, and
(v) making sure that all citizens and business have access to energy.
