BRUSSELS, Belgium, April 9, 2002 (ENS) - Europe is betting its energy future on renewable energy sources and energy saving. Today, the European Commission proposed a new four year energy program "Intelligent Energy for Europe" covering the period 2003 to 2006. It will follow the current energy framework program, which is due to end on December 31.

With a budget of €215 million (US$189.4 million) the program implements the strategy outlined in a November 2000 policy paper on security of energy supply, founded on renewable energy sources and energy saving.

Today, 5.6 percent of Europe's energy supply is generated by renewable sources - wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass. The aim is to increase this to 12 percent by the year 2010.

European Energy and Transport Commissioner Loyola de Palacio (Photo courtesy European Commission)

She is referring to the commitments of all European Union member countries under the Kyoto Protocol to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by eight percent relative to 1990 levels in the five years between 2008 and 2012.

But if nothing is done, the projections of the European Environment Agency show that total emissions by the 15 EU member nations should increase between 1990 and 2010. Transport is the main offender; while it represents 28 percent of CO2 emissions, it will account for 90 percent of the increase in these emissions between 1990 and 2010.

A newly erected wind turbine at the Blyth Offshore Wind Farm, UK (Photo courtesy AMEC Wind)

Global wind power may rise five-fold by 2010, with EU member country Germany a world leader, according to a new study by the German Wind Energy Institute (DEWI).

Researchers from DEWI have predicted wind energy capacity will rise from the current 25,000 megawatts (MW) to 120,000 MW by 2010. A megawatt is roughly enough electricity to power 1,000 typical homes.

Germany has been taking the lead in wind technology. Last year it added 2,659 MW of new turbines, bringing the total wind power generation to 8,750 MW, equivalent to 3.5 percent of Germany’s total power consumption.

Wind turbines generate power in Copenhagen Harbor (Photo courtesy Richard Grosenbaugh)

Denmark, Britain and Ireland also have major wind farm projects in the works that will come on line within the new program's timeframe.

Currently, 45 percent of Europe's oil supply comes from the Middle East, while 40 percent of natural gas imports come from Russia. Nuclear power provides 35 percent of Europe's energy.

In its policy paper, the commission said that 94 percent of the carbon dioxide emitted by human activities comes from the energy sector. Carbon dioxide is the major greenhouse gas linked to global warming.

The Intelligent Energy for Europe action plan proposes a much higher level of European support for promoting renewable energies under the ALTENER program, and energy saving under the SAVE initiative, while at the same time bringing international action into line with these two priorities.

Vice President Palacio rides a bike on European Car Free Day (Photo courtesy Office of the Commissioner)

The success of these two programs was noted by all the European Community institutions, and the activities have been continued in the multiannual framework program on actions in the energy sector and related measures, which was adopted in 1998 and expires on December 31 to be replaced by "Intelligent Energy for Europe."

In the near future, the Commission proposes to introduce a new raft of measures on the energy aspects of transport in line with the new guidelines of the common transport policy.