Cogeneration was first promoted at EU level in a Green Paper on security of energy supply published in November 2000. The paper argued that if the EU's share of cogeneration, which only accounted for 11% of total electricity production in the EU in 1998, were to be increased to 18% by 2010, the ensuing savings could amount to 3-4% of total gross consumption in the EU.
In February 2004, the EU adopted the CHP Directive (2004/8/EC). The objective of this Directive is to establish a transparent common framework to promote and facilitate the installation of cogeneration plants where demand for useful heat exists or is anticipated. This overall objective translates into two specific aims:
in the short term, the Directive should make it possible to consolidate existing cogeneration installations and promote new plants;
in the medium to long term, the Directive should serve as a means to create the necessary framework for high efficiency cogeneration, aimed at reducing emissions of CO2 and other substances, to contribute to sustainable development.
The CHP Directive will be repealed by the upcoming Energy Efficiency Directive - the legislative proposal (COM 2011/370) was launched by the European Commission on 22 June 2011.
