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At the same time, a change of paradigms in research and development is taking place. Because the liberalization of the markets, which brought on more closeness to the customers as well as flexibility and speed, does not simply stop before the gates of research. In the days gone by, the results of long-term investigations of highly qualified specialists ensured the success of the technologies, but nowadays, in the age of modern information technologies, it is more the advantage won by a fast exchange of information which leads to the knowledge decisive against the competition. If one examines the resources in research and development, the conclusion can be easily drawn, that the results of the different areas of evaluation which are most likely to succeed are tied to only a few scientists, who are distributed over the entirety of Europe. A successful utilization of the results from research and development for the relatively small range of "district heat and combined heat and power" technology is only possible, if by an intelligent information- and communication technology an organized access can be ensured for the respective areas of competency which are sought out. The Fifth Framework Programme (FP5) (link http://www.cordis.lu/eesd/home.html) sets out the priorities for the European Union's research, technological development and demonstration (RTD) activities for the period 1998-2002. Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development is one of the four thematic programmes of the Fifth Framework Programme. CHP and DHC RTD are supported also by the European Unionīs SAVE II, ALTENER and CARNOT programmes.> International Energy Agency has with its member countries an Agreement on District Heating & Cooling including the integration of CHP. The Agreement consists of different co-funded projects. Individual countries have their own R&D projects which are described country by country. Euroheat & Power has a Co-ordination Committee for Research and Technology Development which Co-ordinates RTD between European countries. Individual countries have their own RTD projects which are described in country by country-section. |
In line with the liberalization of the energy markets in Europe,
presently far-reaching changes can be observed. They become apparent
in a pragmatic market orientation of the supply businesses. The
focal point of the development is the part of combined heat and
power, which is not only a technology to save energy, but is also of
importance as an advantageous method of CO2-reduction.