Energy technology promotion: the challenge

The European Community's Thermie programme is outlined, covering financial support for commercial implementation of new energy technologies; measures for energy technology promotion, through a network of Organisations for the promotion of Energy Technology (OPETs), and coordination of technology promotion activities at European level. If future funding is to be secured for Thermie and other technology promotion programmes, their relevance to the key political challenges of the day must be shown. This is examined for four such challenges facing the EC : the environment; C/E Europe and CIS; integration of the Community energy market; and economic and social cohesion.