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The
Spanish Presidency: a
new window of
opportunity for
Photovoltaics (PV)
In January 2010, Spain
assumed the six-month
rotating presidency of
the European Union, with
the responsibility of
leading the
implementation of the
Lisbon Treaty and
ensuring close
cooperation with the
next two countries to
hold the office, namely
Belgium and Hungary,
through a joint 18-month
programme.
The trio of presidencies
has put forward an
ambitious agenda with
important energy items,
including the
implementation and
possible review of the
Climate and Energy
Package. Therefore, the
upcoming months will be
of the utmost relevance
for the PV sector.
A new 2010-2014 Energy
Action Plan for Europe
will be adopted under
the Spanish command,
envisaging the necessary
actions to accelerate
the move towards a low
carbon economy, where
the development of
technology is an
essential component,
particularly regarding
the Strategic Energy
Technology Plan. It is
mandatory to raffle the
financial and budgetary
aspects of this
ambitious initiative in
order for it to yield
short term results. The
Solar Energy Industry
Initiative, which is a
key axe of this Plan,
will be officially
launched by the end of
the Presidency, with a
clear roadmap until
2020.
A number of events will
also be organised to
boost the Mediterranean
Solar Plan, including a
dedicated conference
during the month of May
in Valencia, where high
level stakeholders will
discuss the best
approach to reach up to
20 GW of new renewable
energy capacities by
2020 in the
Mediterranean region,
out of which 3-4 GW
would be covered by PV.
Last but not least,
within the umbrella of
the Spanish Presidency,
Member States will have
to submit their
Renewable Energy Action
Plans by June 2010, in
order to ensure the
20-20-20 targets for
2020, as set out in the
Renewable Energy
Directive.
EPIA is currently
defining a number of
activities to advance
the PV case under the
Spanish Presidency,
striving for a
successful launching of
the SEII, advocating for
the inclusion of a
significant share of PV
within the Renewable
Energy Action Plans and,
finally, enhancing the
role of PV within the
Mediterranean area.
A new window of
opportunity is now ahead
for the photovoltaic
sector to further
position PV as a
mainstream power source
in Europe by 2020 and
beyond.
Adel El Gammal
Secretary General
European Photovoltaic
Industry Association
EPIA | rue d'Arlon,
63-67 | Brussels | 1040
| Belgium
www.epia.org
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