Focus Laws and Regulations

03.01.2012

Cogeneration: new guidelines for investment

Investment in cogeneration could be significantly affected by the rule published in the Official Journal of 23rd December 2011 laying down harmonized efficiency reference values for separate production of electricity and heat in application of Directive 2004/8/EC going to repeal 2007/74/EC earlier directive.

The new directive aims to increase energy efficiency and improve provision security trying to promote high-efficiency cogeneration of heat and energy by making particular reference to the national climatic conditions.
The European Commission in updating the legislation took into account data related to operational use under realistic conditions showing that for buildings built from January 2006 it is not appropriate to maintain the distinction laid down in Decision 2007/74/EC in the year of construction of cogeneration units with regard to efficiency reference values. As for units built until 2005  reference values by year of construction continue to be applied.

Conversely, for facilities that use wood-based fuels and biogas, continue to apply correction factors related to weather conditions and avoid losses on the network regardless of the year of construction.
The only exception is represented by separate production facilities for which do not include either the year of construction or the correction factor related to weather conditions or losses avoided on the network.