Introduction and message: EREF's main strength and challenge


The Challenge

EREF is the European Renewable Energies Federation asbl.

EREF is the European interest and lobby group for independent producers of electricity and fuels from all renewable energy sources except large hydro.

EREF members are national associations of RES producers and supporting agencies from many EU Member States. EREF represents at present approximately 17.000 MW of installed capacity in RES electricity in the EU. And it is representing a growing share of renewable energies in heating and cooling and in the transport sector.

In a nutshell:

• EREF is the voice of Renewable Energy Producer
• EREF is the watchdog of the energy sector
• EREF is the promoter for a renewable energy value chain and regional sustainable development
• EREF is providing detailed information for public and media.

Renewable Energy is a critical part of a sustainable future and as the main guarantor for a sustainable energy policy.
Renewable Energy Industry successfully came out of being a niche player and grew rapidly into a major presence worldwide, and especially in Europe. The global industry expanding new renewable energies is now investing on the order of € 30 billion in 2005, representing an increase of € 6.3 billion in just one year.¹ It can be estimated that at least € 20 bio were generated in Europe. And it can further be estimated that several billion Euro were generated by the Renewable Energy producers.
Renewable Energy with all RES sources significantly and increasingly supplies demand for energy worldwide.

The World is facing a dilemma in energy supply.
Global energy production, transport, distribution and supply by the incumbent industry are not sustainable. The fossil and nuclear energy system is a major driver of dramatically increasing climate change, of economic imbalances, and a growing risk of wars on oil, terrorist threats, supply angst and more.

The centralised nuclear and fossil industry is taking up the challenge from the renewable energy sector and is trying to defend their market positions. Mainly due to the rapid growth the RES industry became vulnerable - to hostile take-overs by the incumbents, to undermining activities, threats, discriminating regulatory and other manoeuvres.
The whole energy sector in Europe is at a crossroads. Over the next two to three decades investment in the sector is expected to top € 1 trillion, the majority of this will be required in the power sector. This is a significant increase in annual investment over the last decades, as old facilities and equipment is to be replaced while further demand increases will require additional infrastructure. The type of investments made will determine the direction and environmental impact of the energy sector for future generations.

The Role of the European Renewable Energy Federation, EREF, in the evolving European Renewable Energy Industry

The European Renewable Energy Industry has reached a stage where it is ready to assume the responsibility to provide the necessary new capacities to supply a growing European economy. Renewable energy can provide clean energy and at the same time reduce greenhouse gas emission. Renewables are the indispensable basis of a sustainable energy system.

However, as the industry is growing, institutional barriers are being built up. Not only are the existing barriers of centralized power systems to be removed, but the increasing competitiveness of RES Industry is provoking the introduction of new obstacles and barriers.

The European Renewable Energy Federation, EREF, has taken on the task to support the renewable energy industry by legal action in the European institutions as well as in Member States.

Manoeuvres especially against independent renewable energy production have many faces. They come in the form of pressure against feed-in systems, grid-access discrimination, regulatory burdens, research money privileges to the fossil and nuclear sector, investor unfriendly multiple changing of regulatory frameworks for RES energy, campaigns belittling renewables as too expensive and not able to deliver and a nuisance to grid management, behind-the-screen bargaining with some politicians against the RES industry, tactics to declare renewable energy as environmentally unfriendly and a risk for flora, fauna and habitat.

With experience since the end of the previous century, the EREF staff has leading insight into European Energy legislation.

Legal remnants favouring non-sustainable energy remain to be removed. They are often protected by established institutions, industrial groups, traditions and routines. Identifying such hidden subsidies and presenting them - and opportunities to remove them - to political bodies is another important task for EREF to take on.

EREF - Heading for growth

The necessary legal and political action are too resource consuming for most individual renewable energy companies or national associations. By pooling resources into EREF, European Renewable Energy Companies and national associations will further strengthen their common interest of a growing sector. To the shareholders of these companies the reduced friction in relation to the legal and administrative environment will not only increase the short term turnover and profits but the expectations of further sustainable growth and value of shares.

To survive the mounting and varied pressure and tactics by the incumbent industry, the RES producing industry needs the capacity and competence to use all existing rules and to create and maintain an overall political and regulatory atmosphere which enables further independent growth and substance. It needs a strong and loud voice as producers in Europe. As far as can be seen EREF is the only European Association in the field of RES which files complaints, court cases and the like against unfair favouritism for nuclear and fossil power, centralised power dominance and discrimination of independent RES producers and production.

Thus, EREF needs to grow rapidly stronger without losing the identification and bond with the current members who helped shaping EREF to what it is now.

EREF's current strength is based on many bigger and smaller associations from EU 25, bridging more educational and research units and important fast growing RES industry associations.

EREF can undisturbed by influence of the monopolistic utilities consequently point to problems, market failure and misleading propaganda against RES independent production.

EREF unites independent producers, big and small, from all renewable energy sources.

EREF leaves questions, such as technology development, pure research topics and export strategies and the like to the specialised sectoral RES industry associations. EREF cooperates with all Renewable Energy Associations and seeks closer cooperation with EREC.

EREF has decided to open its base for new membership and for direct sponsoring. EREF needs to grow and become stronger in order to pursue its key objectives.

• To watch the market and to name and blame unfair preference for the incumbent industries by open and hidden legal or illegal subsidies.
• To speak up when support mechanisms in Member States are deteriorated, endangering investment and jeopardising achievement of RES increase targets
• To educate and inform the public and the media and to offer a clear insight picture in the market forces and the challenges for independent power production

EREF invites RES producing industry and national producer associations to join, to sponsor and to actively support EREF.

^[1] Thomas B. Johansson, Renewable Energy Policy: The Emerging Landscape, WREC 2006
    Renewables Global Status Report 2006 update, REN 21 network  (www.ren21.net)



EREF Board & Advisory Members  

How to apply for Membership?

Easy, just send your contact details and we will immediately provide you with a small access package. You can become member as RES producer association, as RES industry, as RES trader or single RES producer from the European Union and EFTA countries.

Just mail us today under:  info@eref-europe.org

We are delighted to welcome you!



Supporting EREF as Sponsor

EREF is a non-for profit organisation. EREF always aims to remain a critical, independent partner to European Institutions, national governments and parliaments. EREF does not want to rely on public funding of those institutions we are cooperating with. EREF is defending the interest of independent power producers and related industry.

Our bank information:

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Bank Account

Centea, Agence Parc du 50°naire, 1040 Brussels, Belgium

Account: 850-814 1365-56

IBAN: BE20 850 814 1365 56

Swift-Code (BIC): BE20 850 814 1365 56



Many thanks for your support!