0_ CUPRINS - IPA SA

„This interest was recently highlighted by the "Hydrogen Initiative" launched in the
United States by President Bush during his January 28th 2003 State of the Union
Address, in which he announced the goal of reversing America’s dependence on
imported oil. The President's Hydrogen Fuel Initiative seeks to develop hydrogen,
fuel cell, and infrastructure technologies needed to make it practical and costeffective
for large numbers of Americans to use fuel cell vehicles by 2020” [4.].
It is necessary to emphasise that this is the possible government trend which seems
to differ, comparing with the some US industry signals, for instance with the new
initiatives of the restructured GM.
CRISIS AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
There are some aspects and ideas which need to be emphsasised:
Cheaper oil is diluting demand for energy efficiency in Europe, and tighter
financing is making it difficult for rewable energy companies to expand, or
even survive.
The rising cost of capital is making it harder for both consumer and suppliers
of alternative energy equipment and services to finance new green projects.
„Now, with demand weakening and prices in decline, the green sector is
hoping for more government support to carry it through the economic turmoil.”
[8.]
The crisis will set apart companies that can invest in renewable energy from
those that cannot.
„The European green energy sector may be able to take advantage of an
unexpected new source of backing:
the United States. President-elect Barack Obama is expected to focus some of
his estimated $700 billion stimulus package on eco-friendly businesses.
Denmark's Vestas, for example, already manufactures wind turbines in the US
and could be well placed to profit from government investment in clean
technology.
Iberian renewable energy producers Iberdrola Renovables (EBER.F) and EDP
Renovaveis (EDPR.LS)—already America's second- and third-largest wind
energy producers, respectively -- similarly stand to benefit from federal
assistance for renewables.” [8.]
CONNECTIONS TO THE NEW EUROPEAN DIRECTIVE ON RENEWABLE.
The European Parliamnent has adopted the DIRECTIVE 2009/28/EC OF THE
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 23 April 2009 on the
39