Europe

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EERE engages through regional partnerships, as well as bilaterally with individual countries in the European region. Some of the following documents are available as Adobe Acrobat PDFs. Download Adobe Reader.

To learn more about EERE's bilateral activities in Europe, click on a country in the map above or select a country using the drop-down list:

Regional Partnerships

U.S.-European Union Energy Council

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The EU-U.S. Energy Council was created in November 2009 to deepen the transatlantic dialogue on strategic energy issues and establish low carbon energy sources, while strengthening scientific collaboration. The Energy Council has created three working groups that focus on Global Energy Security and Markets, Energy Policy, and Technology Research, Development and Demonstration (RD&D). EERE participates in the Technology RD&D working group in four areas: 1) biofuels; 2) energy efficient buildings; 3) hydrogen and fuel cells; and 4) solar power.

EERE and the EU-U.S. Energy Council are helping to bring together subject-matter experts from Europe and the United States to coordinate activities and share information. This cooperation will propel energy policy and deployment, and to accelerate the development of clean energy technologies.

Bilateral Partnerships

Finland

Biofuels Cooperation

EERE is working with the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland to conduct a technical and market analysis of the use of biomass pyrolysis for energy applications. Pyrolysis involves the thermochemical conversion of solid biomass, such as agricultural or industrial waste, into an easily stored and transported liquid, or "bio-oil". Bio-oil can either be upgraded to liquid transportation fuels, or used directly as a fuel to generate electricity.

This project examines methods of utilizing biomass pyrolysis in both Finland and the United States. Researchers in both countries match biomass resources with processing locations, and examines several scenarios for chemical conversion. For example, the research will determine whether it is more feasible to transport all the biomass to a large central site for processing or to generate bio-oil at smaller, distributed sites before transporting the bio-oil to other locations.

Spain

Collaboration on the Solar Decathlon Europe

In October 2007, the DOE signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Housing of the Kingdom of Spain on collaboration in organizing a Solar Decathlon in Europe. See the full text of the MOU (PDF 29 KB null ). Download Adobe Reader.

The DOE Solar Decathlon, led by the EERE Solar Power Technologies Program, is an award-winning program that challenges 20 collegiate teams to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and attractive. This collaboration has led to the development of the Solar Decathlon Europe, which held its first competition in Madrid, Spain in June 2010. See the Solar Decathlon page for more information about the DOE competition, or visit the Solar Decathlon Europe website.

Sweden

U.S.-Sweden Cooperation on Research and Development

In June 2007, the governments of Sweden and the United States signed an Implementing Arrangement on "Cooperation on Research and Development, New Technologies, New Products, New Services, and Enhanced Resource Base for Renewable Energy." See the full text of the agreement (PDF 147 KB). Download Adobe Reader.

Transportation

EERE is working with Volvo A/B to analyze the impacts of biofuels on diesel engines. This collaborative R&D effort, established in 2007, aims to increase the fuel economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions of new heavy-duty commercial trucks produced by Volvo and Mack, a subsidiary of Volvo. This collaboration also encompasses engine, hybrid system, waste heat recovery and overall powertrain system development.

EERE is also working with the Swedish Energy Agency to accelerate the commercialization of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. This collaborative R&D has been ongoing since 2008. The key areas of work include joint development of new technologies and the acceleration of consumer acceptance of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. EERE and its Swedish partners are also working together to share data and solutions to potential challenges in connecting vehicles to the electric grid. For more information visit the Test Site Sweden website.

Biofuels Cooperation

EERE supports biofuels cooperation with the Swedish Energy Agency and technical institutes in Sweden, including R&D on biochemical and thermochemical conversion pathways. This project involves U.S. and Swedish researchers working on bio-energy technologies that convert multiple forms of biomass to biofuels and biochemicals. The overall goal is to coordinate, execute, and leverage diverse R&D activities among respective national programs in the two countries.