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Document 32023R2104

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2104 of 4 July 2023 amending Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2402 as regards the review of harmonised efficiency reference values for separate production of electricity and heat in application of Directive 2012/27/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council

C/2023/4376

OJ L, 2023/2104, 04.10.2023, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2023/2104/oj (BG, ES, CS, DA, DE, ET, EL, EN, FR, GA, HR, IT, LV, LT, HU, MT, NL, PL, PT, RO, SK, SL, FI, SV)

In force

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2023/2104/oj

European flag

Official Journal
of the European Union

EN

Series L


2023/2104

4.10.2023

COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION (EU) 2023/2104

of 4 July 2023

amending Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2402 as regards the review of harmonised efficiency reference values for separate production of electricity and heat in application of Directive 2012/27/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Directive 2012/27/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on energy efficiency, amending Directives 2009/125/EC and 2010/30/EU and repealing Directives 2004/8/EC and 2006/32/EC (1), and in particular the second subparagraph of Article 14(10) thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2402 (2) established reviewed harmonised efficiency reference values for the separate production of electricity and heat, as a matrix of values differentiated by relevant factors, including year of construction and types of fuel and complemented with correction factors with regards to average climatic situation and avoided grid losses.

(2)

The Commission carried out a review of those harmonised efficiency reference values (‘the review’) for the separate production of electricity and heat taking into account data from operational use under realistic conditions, provided by Member States and by stakeholders. As a result of developments in the best available and economically justifiable technology, observed during the review period from 2016 to 2021, the distinction drawn in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2402 relating to the year of construction of a cogeneration unit should be maintained in relation to the harmonised efficiency reference values for separate production of electricity.

(3)

The review showed a need to include new fuels and emerging technologies that might be used more broadly or introduced in cogeneration. Therefore, the list of energy sources with specific reference values should be extended to include e-gases and traded hydrogen as well. As regards traded hydrogen, separate reference values should be set to increase the efficiency of hydrogen use in large cogeneration units.

(4)

The review supports the use of a single reference value for the separate production of electricity for all fossil fuels, based on natural gas use in combined cycle gas turbine power stations. The building of new cogeneration units using liquid or solid fossil fuels is not in conformity with the long-term energy and climate policy objectives of the Union. Therefore, in order to avoid retroactive changes for current schemes, the reference values should be updated and be applicable to the new and substantially refurbished cogeneration units consuming fossil fuels put into operation from 1 January 2024.

(5)

The review showed that the harmonised efficiency reference values for the separate production of heat should be changed only as regards fossil fuels. The new set of reference values for fossil fuels are established on the basis of heat-only boilers using natural gas and should be applicable to new or substantially refurbished units for separate production of heat completed as from 1 January 2024.

(6)

It is necessary to have stable conditions for investment in cogeneration, and continued investor confidence, therefore it is appropriate to fix harmonised reference values for electricity and heat.

(7)

One of the objectives of Directive 2012/27/EU is to promote cogeneration in order to save energy, therefore an incentive should be granted for retrofitting older cogeneration units in order to improve their energy efficiency. In order to provide such incentive, and in conformity with the requirement for the harmonised efficiency reference values to be based on the principles set out in point (f) of Annex II to Directive 2012/27/EU, the efficiency reference values for electricity applicable to a cogeneration unit should increase from the eleventh year after the year of its construction following the rules in Article 3(2) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2402.

(8)

Thermal generation is becoming increasingly important for energy system security, resiliency and flexibility. The operation of some cogeneration systems may change to provide security of supply, flexibility or ancillary services to the electricity system, depending on the application. Future revisions of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2402 shall explore the evolution of efficiency levels, as thermal power plants must adapt their operation to become more flexible in response to renewable power intermittency and demand-side electrification.

(9)

Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2402 should therefore be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2402 is amended as follows:

 

Annexes I and II are replaced by the text in Annex I to this Regulation;

 

Annex IV is replaced by the text in Annex II to this Regulation.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

It shall apply from 1 January 2024.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 4 July 2023.

For the Commission

The President

Ursula VON DER LEYEN


(1)   OJ L 315, 14.11.2012, p. 1.

(2)  Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2402 of 12 October 2015 reviewing harmonised efficiency reference values for separate production of electricity and heat in application of Directive 2012/27/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Commission Implementing Decision 2011/877/EU (OJ L 333, 19.12.2015, p. 54).


ANNEX I

‘ANNEX I

Harmonised efficiency reference values for separate production of electricity

(referred to in Article 1)

In the following table, the harmonised efficiency (%) reference values for separate production of electricity are based on net calorific value and standard atmospheric ISO conditions (15 °C ambient temperature, 1,013 bar, 60 % relative humidity):

 

Category

Energy source

Year of construction

Before 2016

2016–2023

From 2024

Solids

S1

Hard coal including anthracite, bituminous coal, sub-bituminous coal, coke, semi-coke, pet coke

44,2

44,2

53,0

S2

Lignite, lignite briquettes, oil shale

41,8

41,8

53,0

S3

Peat, peat briquettes

39,0

39,0

53,0

S4

Dry biomass including wood and other solid biomass including wood pellets and briquettes, dried woodchips, clean and dry waste wood, nut shells and olive and other stones

33,0

37,0

37,0

S5

Other solid biomass including all wood not included under S4 and black and brown liquor.

25,0

30,0

30,0

S6

Municipal and industrial waste (non-renewable, of non-biological origin such as plastics, rubber and other synthetic materials) and renewable/bio-degradable waste

25,0

25,0

25,0

Liquids

L7

Heavy fuel oil, gas/diesel oil, other oil products

44,2

44,2

53,0

L8

Bio-liquids including bio-methanol, bioethanol, bio-butanol, biodiesel, other biofuels and all e-liquids

44,2

44,2

44,2

L9

Waste liquids including biodegradable and non-renewable waste (including tallow, fat and spent grain).

25,0

29,0

29,0

Gaseous

G10

Natural gas, LPG, LNG and biomethane

52,5

53,0

53,0

G11A

Traded hydrogen (1)

44,2

44,2

53,0

G11B

Refinery gases, synthesis gas, hydrogen (by-product), e-gases (2)

44,2

44,2

44,2

G12

Biogas produced from anaerobic digestion, landfill, and sewage treatment

42,0

42,0

42,0

G13

Coke oven gas, blast furnace gas, mining gas, and other recovered gases (excluding refinery gas)

35,0

35,0

35,0

Other

O14A

Waste heat, including process exhaust gases, product from exothermic chemical reactions (input temperature > 200 °C)

 

30,0

30,0

O14B

Waste heat, including process exhaust gases, product from exothermic chemical reactions (input temperature < 200 °C)

 

30,0

20,0

O15

Nuclear

 

33,0

33,0

O16

Solar thermal

 

30,0

30,0

O17

Geothermal

 

19,5

19,5

O18

Other fuels not mentioned above

 

30,0

30,0

ANNEX II

Harmonised efficiency reference values for separate production of heat

(referred to in Article 1)

In the following table the harmonised efficiency (%) reference values for separate production of heat are based on net calorific value and standard atmospheric ISO conditions (15 °C ambient temperature, 1,013 bar, 60 % relative humidity):

Category

Energy source

Year of construction

Before 2016

2016–2023

From 2024

Hot water

Steam (3)

Direct use of exhaust gases (4)

Hot water

Steam (3)

Direct use of exhaust gases (4)

Hot water

Steam (3)

Direct use of exhaust gases (4)

Solids

S1

Hard coal including anthracite, bituminous coal, sub-bituminous coal, coke, semi-coke, pet coke

88

83

80

88

83

80

92

87

84

S2

Lignite, lignite briquettes, oil shale

86

81

78

86

81

78

92

87

84

S3

Peat, peat briquettes

86

81

78

86

81

78

92

87

84

S4

Dry biomass including wood and other solid biomass including wood pellets and briquettes, dried woodchips, clean and dry waste wood, nut shells and olive and other stones

86

81

78

86

81

78

86

81

78

S5

Other solid biomass including all wood not included under S4 and black and brown liquor.

80

75

72

80

75

72

80

75

72

S6

Municipal and industrial waste (non-renewable, of non-biological origin such as plastics, rubber and other synthetic materials) and renewable/bio-degradable waste

80

75

72

80

75

72

80

75

72

Liquids

L7

Heavy fuel oil, gas/diesel oil, other oil products

89

84

81

85

80

77

92

87

84

L8

Bio-liquids including bio-methanol, bioethanol, bio-butanol, biodiesel, other biofuels and all e-liquids

89

84

81

85

80

77

85

80

77

L9

Waste liquids including biodegradable and non-renewable waste (including tallow, fat and spent grain).

80

75

72

75

70

67

75

70

67

Gaseous

G10

Natural gas, LPG, LNG and biomethane

90

85

82

92

87

84

92

87

84

G11A

Traded hydrogen

89

84

81

90

85

82

92

87

84

G11B

Refinery gases, synthesis gas, hydrogen (by-product), e-gases

89

84

81

90

85

82

90

85

82

G12

Biogas produced from anaerobic digestion, landfill, and sewage treatment

70

65

62

80

75

72

80

75

72

G13

Coke oven gas, blast furnace gas, mining gas, and other recovered gases (excluding refinery gas)

80

75

72

80

75

72

80

75

72

Other

O14A

Waste heat, including process exhaust gases, product from exothermic chemical reactions (input temperature > 200 °C)

92

87

92

87

O14B

Waste heat, including process exhaust gases, product from exothermic chemical reactions (input temperature < 200 °C)

92

87

92

87

O15

Nuclear

92

87

92

87

O16

Solar thermal

92

87

92

87

O17

Geothermal

92

87

92

87

O18

Other fuels not mentioned above

92

87

92

87

’.

(1)  Hydrogen sold from its supplier to a cogeneration unit operator.

(2)  E-gases are understood as gaseous synthetic fuel originating from renewable hydrogen and carbon dioxide captured either from a concentrated source, such as flue gases from an industrial site, or from the air.

(3)  Where steam plants do not account for the condensate return in their calculation of CHP heat efficiencies, the steam efficiencies set out in the table should be increased by 5 percentage points.

(4)  Values for direct heat should be used where the temperature reaches 250 °C or higher.


ANNEX II

‘ANNEX IV

Correction factors for avoided grid losses for the application of the harmonised efficiency reference values for separate production of electricity

(referred to in Article 2(2))

Connection voltage level

Correction factor (Off-site)

Correction factor (On-site)

≥ 345 kV

1

0,976

≥ 200 – < 345 kV

0,972

0,963

≥ 100 – < 200 kV

0,963

0,951

≥ 50 – < 100 kV

0,952

0,936

≥ 12 – < 50 kV

0,935

0,914

≥ 0,45 – < 12kV

0,918

0,891

< 0,45 kV

0,888

0,851

Example:

A 100 kWel cogeneration unit with a reciprocating engine driven with natural gas generates electricity at 380 V. Of this, 85 % is used for own consumption and 15 % is fed into the grid. The plant was constructed in 2020. The annual ambient temperature is 15 °C (so no climatic correction is necessary).

After the grid loss correction the resulting efficiency reference value for the separate production of electricity in this cogeneration unit would be, on the basis of the weighted mean of the factors in this Annex:

Ref Εη = 53 % × (0,851 × 85 % + 0,888 × 15 %) = 45,4 %

’.

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2023/2104/oj

ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)


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