European Parliament acknowledges more renewable-energy sources

EPEE (European Partnership for Energy & the Environment) has welcomed the promotion of air-source and water-source energy as sources of energy under EU law following the adoption by the European Parliament of the EU Directive on the Promotion of Renewable Energy Sources.

The directive was adopted last month [December 2008], and the new legislation requires each member state to increase its share of renewable energies.

Frans Hoorelbeke, chairman of EPEE, comments, ‘The potential of aerothermal [air-source] and hydrothermal [ground-source] energy sources is enormous and can greatly contribute to member states’ success in reaching their renewable-energy targets of 20% by 2020.

Geothermal, aerothermal and hydrothermal energy source are currently exploited using heat pumps, which were recognised as ‘renewable energy technologies, by the EU — alongside wind turbines and solar panels.

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