This report is on the fact that in 2018, the EU has decided upon a climate and energy framework up to 2030, involving clean, affordable and reliable energy system in Europe.
To that end, greenhouse gas emissions are to decline by at least 40 percent below 1990 levels, renewables are to deliver 32 percent of our energy and efficiency is to improve by even 32.5 percent.
This report explores the meaning of such targets an, more in general how will Europe’s energy system look like in 2030.
It introduced the basis to understand the trends in Europe energy.
For example, the overall renewables target translates into a Europe-wide 57 percent share of renewables in the power sector by 2030, implying that wind and solar will shape Europe’s power system.
And the greenhouse gas target implies that coal will be cut by two thirds, oil and gas by a quarter – asking for socially just concepts for this transition. As one of the key point, it provides strategies for the EU energy transition and listed a set of main trends for the future:
1. Decarbonization challenge: As climate change accelerates, societal pressure to act increases
2. Deflation of fossil fuel prices: Coal, oil and gas prices will remain low, but become more volatile
3. Decrease in costs: Clean-energy technologies are becoming cheaper than conventional and fossil technologies
4. Digitalization: Energy and transport systems are becoming smarter and better networked
5. Electrification: The power, transport and heating sectors are increasingly interconnected
6. Dominance of fixed costs: Future energy systems will be dominated by investment costs
7. Influential cities: More people in cities means that urban decisions are becoming more important for enabling low-carbon lifestyles.
8. Demographic and economic change in rural areas: Many regions must cope with ageing and shrinking populations and face shifting economic opportunities
9. Decentralization: Small-scale solutions enable but also require proactive energy consumers
10. Interdependence: Progressive integration of European economies and energy systems is demanding more coordination between countries
You can access the whole report here.