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This “reverse auction market” feed-in tariff is designed to avoid the pitfalls the have plagued efforts in Europe to encourage development of renewable energy by paying artificially high rates for electricity produced by solar power plants or rooftop photovoltaic projects.

Acumentrics, in fact, is moving toward commercial production of a compact fuel cell system to power and heat homes. Working with the Italian heating products company Merloni TermoSanitari, Acumentrics hopes to get these household units, small enough to hang on a wall, into European markets by 2010. Estimated price: $5,200.

The European Environment Agency (EEA) has released its fourth assessment report on the environmental situation in 53 European countries, highlighting significant air pollution, biodiversity loss and poor water quality across the region. 

Agreement has been reached on the European Union Renewable Energy Directive that could paved the way for the economic bloc to achieve its plans for a 20% renewables contribution to total energy demand and a 20% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, the so-called 20:20:20 plan. The deal, between the European Parliament, the French Presidency, on behalf of the Council, and the European Commission, means that more than one third of EU electricity must come from renewables by 2020.

The joint statement stressed the urgent need to promote Africa electrification and agreed to launch as soon as possible the process for the elaboration of an Electricity Master-Plan for Africa; they also agreed to further define the Capacity Building Programme in support to the African Power Pools and AFUR[1] which will be financed under the Energy Facility[2];

There is no reason to wait until 2016 for the EuP eco-design requirements to phase out the modestly efficient C class halogen “look-alikes” that are expected to replace today’s clear incandescent lamps. These should be replaced by more efficient B Class lamps sooner than 2016, the European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy claims, based on a new report commissioned by the organisation.