Page 5 - European Energy Innovation - Summer 2014
P. 5
Summer 2014 European Energy Innovation 5
FOREWORD
The publishers of European Energy 2014: the centenary of the outbreak of the ‘War to End All Wars’. The eyes of the
Innovation would like to offer their World turn once more towards the killing grounds: to the Somme, Verdun and
sincere thanks to all individuals and Passchendaele; to the rows of gravestones and the monuments commemorating
organisations who have contributed those with no known grave. Old memories are burnished anew; and rightly so - “lest
editorial images photos and illustrations we forget”. And yet, even as I write these words, ceremonies on Normandy’s beaches
to the magazine. Whilst every effort and elsewhere commemorate the 70th Anniversary of an operation conceived to
has been made to ensure accuracy hasten the end of a second war that had begun only a generation after the first
of the content, the publishers of had ended. “Those who fail to learn from History”, said Santayana, “are doomed to
European Energy Innovation accept no repeat it”; and historians have pored over the links between the two wars, even as
responsibility for errors or omissions. commentators explain why a third has not begun. Not yet, at least.
The contents of European Energy Today, the news is dominated by the situation in Ukraine and there resonate
Innovation are protected by copyright. several eerily disquieting echoes of that incendiary summer of 1914: geo-political
alliances; secessionist movements; disputes over resources, sovereignty and
All rights reserved. territory. They form a potent and combustible cocktail, but this is no time for
lugubrious prophesy of war. The European Union might recently have received
European Energy Innovation is a stern rebuke from sections of its electorate, but it remains a powerful force
published by: for unity (the concept features in its name and its motto, after all); and a mighty
Prologue Media Ltd bulwark against these dangerous developments.
1a Shire Lane
Chorleywood Energy is one of the battlegrounds (and, coincidentally, one of the weapons) of
Hertfordshire WD3 5NQ this new realpolitik. Ukraine’s national gas bill and Europe’s energy dependence
United Kingdom are uncomfortably thorny issues that confront negotiators, energy planners and
legislators alike, lending new urgency and sharpened relevance to initiatives such
Tel: +44 1923 286238 as Europe’s 2030 Climate Policy Framework. And in this issue, we are delighted
www.europeanenergyinnovation.eu to feature an article from Energy Commissioner Oettinger, who explores the link
between innovation and energy goals. Naturally, the 2030 framework features
HEAD OF BRUSSELS OFFICE strongly in his thoughts. Observing the disparities in energy pricing that introduce
Sophia Silvert major obstacles to international competitiveness, Commissioner Oettinger
145/15 Avenue Molière emphasises yet again the importance of the internal energy market. Koen Noyens
B-1190 – Brussels echoes these themes when arguing for innovation to be put at the heart of the
Belgium 2030 debate. Successful innovation, he contends, depends not only upon proper
Tel: +32 2 347 7019 funding, but also an effective policy framework, which requires coordination at EU
Mob: +32 4737 30322 level. Giving us a little more detail, Vinicius Valente and Greg Arrowsmith explore
sophia@europeanenergyinnovation.eu the top ten renewable energy research priorities. Theirs is a wide-ranging list that
includes what might be termed the “usual suspects”: solar energy, wind energy,
To obtain additional copies please email biofuels and CHP. But there are more far-reaching suggestions, such as advanced
info@europeanenergyinnovation.eu thermal conversion and hybrid grid and storage solutions. Eric Dautriat explains
that almost 600 companies have taken part in the Clean Sky project, with the
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR promise of reducing aviation CO2 emissions by 2 to 3 billion tonnes over the next
Philip Beausire 35 years. Clean Sky 2 will build upon this progress with a larger budget and more
philip@europeanenergyinnovation.eu ambitious environmental objectives.
EDITOR Vittorio Prodi MEP discusses geothermal energy technology and today’s funding
Michael Edmund mechanisms. One of the more interesting aspects of this neglected and much-
editor@europeanenergyinnovation.eu underrated energy source is that each installed MW produces more electricity
than either wind or solar power, offering the enticing prospect of supplying as
DESIGN & PRODUCTION much as 15% of Europe’s energy requirements by 2050.
RayHeathDesign.co.uk
Marine Faber explores how cities can act for a sustainable future. Noting
WEBSITE DESIGN the growth in urban populations, their dependence on fossil fuels and the
pulseart.co.uk accompanying pollution, she reviews what the SMART concept means right now,
while offering practical examples of what has been achieved in places such as
PRINT Copenhagen and Valladolid.
The Magazine Printing Company,
Enfield, Middlesex, United Kingdom Those who have taken holidays upon the sun-drenched playas of Spain might be
forgiven for assuming that solar power forms the backbone of Spanish renewable
www.europeanenergyinnovation.eu energy. Not so, as Heikki Willstedt informs us: for the first time ever in any country,
wind was the main source of electricity in Spain last year. The main source of
electricity, you note: over 50 GWh, supplying one fifth of total demand. Sadly,
changes in policy threaten both the future development of the renewable sector
and Spain’s ability to reach its 2020 objectives.
Quoting Alexander Graham Bell, Commissioner Oettinger observes that “Great
discoveries and improvements invariably involve the cooperation of many minds.”
A sentiment to which all of Europe - and all of us - can aspire. If Europe can
prevent a World War, it can surely help resolve a dispute in the Balkans.
And, as always, there is a lot more for you to read inside..
Michael Edmund
Editor
FOREWORD
The publishers of European Energy 2014: the centenary of the outbreak of the ‘War to End All Wars’. The eyes of the
Innovation would like to offer their World turn once more towards the killing grounds: to the Somme, Verdun and
sincere thanks to all individuals and Passchendaele; to the rows of gravestones and the monuments commemorating
organisations who have contributed those with no known grave. Old memories are burnished anew; and rightly so - “lest
editorial images photos and illustrations we forget”. And yet, even as I write these words, ceremonies on Normandy’s beaches
to the magazine. Whilst every effort and elsewhere commemorate the 70th Anniversary of an operation conceived to
has been made to ensure accuracy hasten the end of a second war that had begun only a generation after the first
of the content, the publishers of had ended. “Those who fail to learn from History”, said Santayana, “are doomed to
European Energy Innovation accept no repeat it”; and historians have pored over the links between the two wars, even as
responsibility for errors or omissions. commentators explain why a third has not begun. Not yet, at least.
The contents of European Energy Today, the news is dominated by the situation in Ukraine and there resonate
Innovation are protected by copyright. several eerily disquieting echoes of that incendiary summer of 1914: geo-political
alliances; secessionist movements; disputes over resources, sovereignty and
All rights reserved. territory. They form a potent and combustible cocktail, but this is no time for
lugubrious prophesy of war. The European Union might recently have received
European Energy Innovation is a stern rebuke from sections of its electorate, but it remains a powerful force
published by: for unity (the concept features in its name and its motto, after all); and a mighty
Prologue Media Ltd bulwark against these dangerous developments.
1a Shire Lane
Chorleywood Energy is one of the battlegrounds (and, coincidentally, one of the weapons) of
Hertfordshire WD3 5NQ this new realpolitik. Ukraine’s national gas bill and Europe’s energy dependence
United Kingdom are uncomfortably thorny issues that confront negotiators, energy planners and
legislators alike, lending new urgency and sharpened relevance to initiatives such
Tel: +44 1923 286238 as Europe’s 2030 Climate Policy Framework. And in this issue, we are delighted
www.europeanenergyinnovation.eu to feature an article from Energy Commissioner Oettinger, who explores the link
between innovation and energy goals. Naturally, the 2030 framework features
HEAD OF BRUSSELS OFFICE strongly in his thoughts. Observing the disparities in energy pricing that introduce
Sophia Silvert major obstacles to international competitiveness, Commissioner Oettinger
145/15 Avenue Molière emphasises yet again the importance of the internal energy market. Koen Noyens
B-1190 – Brussels echoes these themes when arguing for innovation to be put at the heart of the
Belgium 2030 debate. Successful innovation, he contends, depends not only upon proper
Tel: +32 2 347 7019 funding, but also an effective policy framework, which requires coordination at EU
Mob: +32 4737 30322 level. Giving us a little more detail, Vinicius Valente and Greg Arrowsmith explore
sophia@europeanenergyinnovation.eu the top ten renewable energy research priorities. Theirs is a wide-ranging list that
includes what might be termed the “usual suspects”: solar energy, wind energy,
To obtain additional copies please email biofuels and CHP. But there are more far-reaching suggestions, such as advanced
info@europeanenergyinnovation.eu thermal conversion and hybrid grid and storage solutions. Eric Dautriat explains
that almost 600 companies have taken part in the Clean Sky project, with the
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR promise of reducing aviation CO2 emissions by 2 to 3 billion tonnes over the next
Philip Beausire 35 years. Clean Sky 2 will build upon this progress with a larger budget and more
philip@europeanenergyinnovation.eu ambitious environmental objectives.
EDITOR Vittorio Prodi MEP discusses geothermal energy technology and today’s funding
Michael Edmund mechanisms. One of the more interesting aspects of this neglected and much-
editor@europeanenergyinnovation.eu underrated energy source is that each installed MW produces more electricity
than either wind or solar power, offering the enticing prospect of supplying as
DESIGN & PRODUCTION much as 15% of Europe’s energy requirements by 2050.
RayHeathDesign.co.uk
Marine Faber explores how cities can act for a sustainable future. Noting
WEBSITE DESIGN the growth in urban populations, their dependence on fossil fuels and the
pulseart.co.uk accompanying pollution, she reviews what the SMART concept means right now,
while offering practical examples of what has been achieved in places such as
PRINT Copenhagen and Valladolid.
The Magazine Printing Company,
Enfield, Middlesex, United Kingdom Those who have taken holidays upon the sun-drenched playas of Spain might be
forgiven for assuming that solar power forms the backbone of Spanish renewable
www.europeanenergyinnovation.eu energy. Not so, as Heikki Willstedt informs us: for the first time ever in any country,
wind was the main source of electricity in Spain last year. The main source of
electricity, you note: over 50 GWh, supplying one fifth of total demand. Sadly,
changes in policy threaten both the future development of the renewable sector
and Spain’s ability to reach its 2020 objectives.
Quoting Alexander Graham Bell, Commissioner Oettinger observes that “Great
discoveries and improvements invariably involve the cooperation of many minds.”
A sentiment to which all of Europe - and all of us - can aspire. If Europe can
prevent a World War, it can surely help resolve a dispute in the Balkans.
And, as always, there is a lot more for you to read inside..
Michael Edmund
Editor
