Campaign for Take-Off (CTO)

Focusing on certain key sectors, the Campaign for Take-Off sets out a framework for action to highlight investment opportunities and attract the necessary private funding which is expected to make up the lion’s share of the capital required. The Campaign also seeks to encourage public spending to focus on the key sectors, and, in the process, to complement a trigger private investment.

The Campaign will be a highly visible vehicle, involving key sectors (solar, wind energy and biomass), for the drive towards a significant increase in renewables use and penetration.

The White Paper for a Community Strategy and Action Plan, Energy for the Future: Renewable Sources of Energy, sets an indicative objective of 12% for the contribution of renewable sources of energy (RES) to the European Union´s gross inland energy consumption by 2010 The comprehensive strategy and action plan outlined in the White Paper sets out the means to reach this objective: regulation to create favourable framework conditions for RES, and increased funding for RES under programmes, both at national and Community levels.

In its Resolution on the White Paper, the Council welcomed the idea of the Campaign for Take-Off (CTO) as a means to raise interest among industry, investors and the public and invited the Commission to bring forward detailed proposals. Likewise, the European Parliament , the Committee of the Regions and the Economic and Social Committee have welcomed the CTO.

The CTO proposed in the White Paper forms an integral part of the Community Strategy. It is designed to kick-start the implementation of the Strategy and is expected to have reached its goals by 2003. Focusing on certain key sectors proposed and elaborated below, it sets out a framework for action to highlight investment opportunities and attract the necessary private funding which is expected to make up the lion's share of the capital required. The Campaign also seeks to encourage public spending to focus on the key sectors, and, in the process, to complement private investment.

Investments necessary to achieve the goals of the CTO would have to come primarily from the private sector. A strong commitment from industry and other potential investors is therefore crucial. Equally important, Member States close involvement is required, both through marketing the ideas of the Campaign and focusing programmes and schemes on its objectives. A Renewable Energy Partnership could strengthen the necessary co-operation at Community level.

In preparing the CTO, Member States were invited to provide information on existing and planned RES policies and programmes including their preferences for sectors to be given priority under the CTO. The recommendations from the Community Institutions, the replies from Member States together with other relevant information, in particular on national and Community programmes have been used to help design the CTO.