Its aim is to increase the energy efficiency and improve the security of supply of energy, to be achieved by creating a framework for the promotion and development of high efficiency cogeneration.
The directive entered into force in February 2004 and member states have been obliged to begin its implementation since 2006.
However, due to delays resulting out of the comitology process, member states were given until 6 August 2007 to adopt the first obligations of the directive.
[1] It is intended that the directive will have a significant impact on the legislation and the diffusion of CHP/cogeneration and district heating within the member states of the European Union.
In summary, the Member States are obliged to produce reports covering their analysis of the state of CHP in their own countries, to promote CHP and show what is being done to promote it, to report on and remove barriers, and to track progress of high-efficiency cogeneration within the energy market.