Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in key role in reducing emissions
Energy Audit ´06 opens in Lahti, Finland 11th September 2006
In his opening remarks Minister for Trade and Industry Mr Mauri Pekkarinen emphasised the importance of energy efficiency and renewable energy in reducing carbon dioxide emissions and securing the supply of energy.
According to Minister Pekkarinen, improvements in energy efficiency can be obtained through energy auditing in buildings, industrial sites and energy production.
The Energy Audit ´06 Conference held in Lahti 11th to 13th of September concentrates on energy auditing and increasing the use of renewable energy. Minister Pekkarinen believes that one major contribution of this conference is that it helps the governments to develop their own energy auditing programmes. The participants of the Conference are experts and decision-makers from nearly 40 countries all over the world.
Pekkarinen emphasised the importance of energy auditing co-operation of both developed and developing countries. Finland has had a well-developed energy auditing programme for the last 15 years, and we have been active in transferring energy auditing know-how to Russia and the Baltic countries. The latest endeavour is an energy auditing project in China.
Starting an international energy auditing programme is very important in this accord. Through the programme the know-how on energy auditing would be spread to countries where it does not yet exist.
Pekkarinen to launch guidelines for the use of second-generation biofuels in transport
Mr Pekkarinen underlines the significance of renewable energy in Finnish energy supply, and points out that the use of bioenergy should be increased. The share of renewables in Finnish primary energy production is 25 percent. The production of renewables is 80 percent based in wood fuels and other bioenergy sources.
Pekkarinen plans to launch guidelines for the use of biofuels in transport. The target is to promote especially the use of second-generation renewable energy options.
EU needs common Energy Policy
According to the EU commissioner for energy Mr Andris Piebalgs, the major energy concerns of the EU are climate change and rapidly increased dependency for oil and gas in energy supply, as well as the volatile and high energy prices.
In 2030 the EU counties will import 70 % of its energy compared to the 50 % of today. For that reason Mr Piebalgs sees the increase in use of renewable energy as a major objective in all Member States. ”Both energy producers and consumers should aim at higher energy efficiency. EU needs a common energy policy."
The basis for a common European energy policy is put forward in the Green Paper adopted by the EU Commission in March 2006. According to the Green Paper the major guidelines of the energy policy are sustainable development, competitiveness and security of supply.
The objectives for the use of renewable energy in the EU countries are ambitious. In 2010 the share of renewables would be 12 percent of energy consumption, in electricity production 21 percent and in motor fuels 5.75 percent. According to Mr Piebalgs, the EU Commission is working on a renewable energies Road Map that will include a long-term strategy.
Energy efficiency is a major factor in combating climate change. The cost-effective energy savings are estimated to be over 20 % of primary energy consumption - when realised. The forthcoming Action Plan of the EU Commission aims at influencing all the energy end-use sectors for example through education, dissemination of information as well as using the existing legal instruments to the full extent.
Energy Audit ´06 Conference will continue in Lahti until the 13th of September. The subjects for the coming days include different energy auditing programmes and models in various countries as well as connecting renewables and auditing schemes.
For more information:
Senior Adviser Mr Heikki Väisänen
Ministry of Trade and Industry, tel. + 358 9 1606 4834
Communications Manager Kirsi-Maaria Forssell,
Motiva Oy, tel. +358 400 464 787
