EGEC, the voice of the European geothermal industry, has called on the European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen to create a European internal market for heat in an open letter.
EGEC argued in the letter that the current European Commission interpretation of the internal energy market gives an unfair advantage to electricity and fossil gas, at the expense of renewable heat. As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to bring Europe’s economy almost to a standstill, the association is urging for immediate measures in order to create new business opportunities in the green economy, in particular an European Internal Market for Heat.
Heat represents half of the EU’s energy consumption and about 80% of this heat energy consumption comes from fossil fuels. Fossil gas is not subjected to a carbon price. On top of this, EGEC argues that both governments and EU institutions continue to support fossil fuels through direct and indirect public subsidies for infrastructure, appliances and fuel consumption. This situation, according to EGEC, locks out renewable solutions for heating and cooling services and prevents their development in all Member States.
Philippe Dumas, EGEC Secretary General, said: “The focus on fossil gas is not compatible with the Paris Agreement nor the European Commission efforts on climate-neutrality. The EU cannot pursue a zero-carbon policy whilst institutionalising dependence on a fossil fuel. The internal market for heat would unleash much needed investments in employment-rich renewable energy sources, while addressing the economic crisis.”
The full text of the letter from EGEC to President von der Leyen.
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