Dutch Economics Minister sees role for nuclear and CO2 storage in future ETS

In his letter to the European Commission as reaction on the Greenbook Energy Dutch Economics ministry Brinkhorst said he favours a continuation of the ETS after 2012 (May 24). But he said that changes in the system are needed: harmonise the allocation for new and existing sites, limit free allocation to the power sector to tackle 'windfall profits' and to take into account in the allocation system after 2012 the value of CO2 storage and nuclear energy. Besides this he said he would favour extention of the EU ETS with aviation, marine transport and non CO2 gases.
Energy chief De Riuvaz of EDF Energy was more concrete yesterday when he said he wants to classify nuclear as non CO2 emitting form of energy generation within the EU ETS, so that less credits are needed and to create an additional revenue stream for nuclear.
The ETS is only mandatory for companies that burn fossil fuel; hence, also wind energy is not included in the EU ETS>.