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How It Helps Reduce Import Fuel
Dependency
Energy efficiency contributes to security of supply by reducing
the total amount of fuel
required, hence lowering dependency on suppliers. Cogeneration
is a mature energy
efficiency technology, addressing the most inefficient sector of
Europe’s economies: the
power sector. Unlike many technologies expected to deliver
Europe’s energy needs,
cogeneration is already well developed and available today.
Within the European Union 11%
of
electricity is currently generated using cogeneration. The
efficiency of cogeneration saves
Europe an estimated 35Mtoe per annum today, equivalent to the
gross inland consumption of
Finland in 2005.
The
value of energy efficiency and cogeneration in particular to
Europe’s energy supply
security is recognised in the opening paragraphs of the
Cogeneration Directive 2004/08/EC.
The
Directive was originally drafted with both energy efficiency and
security of supply in mind.
It
now forms the reliable starting point for systematic
identification, and promotion of high
efficiency, energy saving cogeneration in Europe and encourages
Member States to support
projects which will demonstrably save at least 10% of primary
energy compared to separate
production of heat and electricity.
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