U.S.- EU Energy Council looks to long-term
This week the U.S. – EU Energy Council met to review progress achieved on strategic energy issues, cooperation on energy policies, and research collaboration on sustainable and clean energy technologies. The joint statement highlights the Council’s commitment to cooperative long-term energy solutions.
At Monday’s meeting, the U.S. and EU representatives were forward-looking. Recognizing the benefit of continued cooperation on the security and diversification of energy resources, the Energy Council urged further initiatives, such as coordinated research, and endorsed the prioritization of four of the current nine areas of cooperation:
- advanced materials, including critical materials for clean energy supply;
- smart grids, including energy storage for grids;
- nuclear fusion;
- hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.
The U.S. and EU stated their intent to establish two Electric Vehicle-Power Grid Interoperability Centers, one in the United States at Argonne National Laboratory, and one in Italy at JRC-Ispra. They also concluded negotiations for an agreement to develop common energy efficiency specifications for office equipment and the common use of the ENERGY STAR logo. This agreement will establish consistent targets for manufacturers and thereby maximize the effect of their individual efforts to increase the global supply of and demand for energy efficient office equipment. It will also help consumers in both markets identify energy efficient, cost-effective products.
Without losing sight of the short-term, the U.S. and EU stated their intention to continue their strategic dialogue on global gas markets (including the role of unconventional gas) and recognized the importance of promoting the highest levels of safety and security for nuclear power plants.
