Up to the end of 1998, cogeneration accounted for less than 3% of French electricity production capacity, compared to 40% in the Netherlands, for example.
The European average is about 9%.
The European objective, as stated in Kyoto, is to double the proportion of electricity produced by cogeneration and reach 18% by 2010.
So far, the potential for using cogeneration to save energy is greatly under-used in Europe.
Promoting high-yield cogeneration on the basis of demand for usable heat is a European priority, given the benefits of cogeneration in terms of savings on primary energy, preventing network losses and reducing emissions, particularly of greenhouse gases.
"High-yield cogeneration" means cogeneration that saves at least 10% of primary energy compared to separate production of heat and electricity.
The European Parliament, in its amendment 43 (Commission meeting of 23 July 2003), proposes that the European Union, and each of its member States individually, ensure that by 2012, at least 18% of total electricity output is produced by cogeneration, in each country and for the EU as a whole.
Various parliamentary amendments provide for special assistance for micro-cogeneration (output of less than 50 kWe).
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The new situation in Europe
