Category: Knowledge Center Europe

Energy Trends in UK: Brief

Energy Trends in UK: Brief

April 3, 2025 | , , ,

Production from renewable technologies in 2024 increased 7 per cent to a record 144.7 TWh, and a record share of 50.8 per cent of electricity generation, passing half of generation for the first time ever in the annual data. Wind generation increased by 2 per cent to a new record high. Bioenergy and solar output also increased to new record highs. With nuclear output stable, low carbon generation was a record 65.0 per cent for the year. Generation from fossil fuels dropped to levels last seen in the 1950s, down 16 per cent and a share of 31.5 per cent due to 15 per cent fall in gas generation and the cessation of coal generation in the latter part of the year

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Imbalance Regulations in European Energy Markets: Statistics

Imbalance Regulations in European Energy Markets: Statistics

March 28, 2025 | , ,

This data on imbalance charges in the European energy markets is sourced from the report “Challenges in Forecasting and Scheduling of Solar power plants after stringent and frequent changes in CERC (Deviation Settlement Mechanism) regulations” published by Sustainable Projects Developers Association. France, Slovakia, Hungary, Lithuania, Serbia and Monaco are exempted from paying imbalance charges.

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Ireland’s Energy Supply Chain: Report

Ireland’s Energy Supply Chain: Report

March 28, 2025 | , ,

This report examines in detail how well the Irish supply chain is positioned to capture new business as a result of the ongoing transition to sustainable energy systems in Ireland and beyond. The report highlights the potential market size for a selection of key sustainable energy technologies in Ireland, the EU and globally, and areas of the supply chain where Irish businesses in the manufacturing, construction and services sectors could capture a share of the market.

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European Electricity and Gas Markets: Report

European Electricity and Gas Markets: Report

March 20, 2025 | , ,

Europe’s energy landscape is at a crossroads. Renewable energy saw significant growth, accounting for 34% of power generation in 2024. Early 2024 marked some of the lowest energy prices since 2021, thanks to a strong renewable supply and nuclear recovery in France. Inflexible generation kept EU summer electricity prices low, causing more negative price events, increasing by 50% in 2024.

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EU’s Action Plan for Affordable Energy: Paper

EU’s Action Plan for Affordable Energy: Paper

March 7, 2025 | , ,

To deliver on the Clean Industrial Deal, Europe needs affordable energy. A set of concrete short-term and structural measures will provide competitiveness, affordability, security and sustainability for citizens and businesses. As part of the Clean Industrial Deal, the Commission presented on 26 February 2025 an Affordable Energy Action Plan. The Action Plan includes making electricity bills more affordable, bring down the cost of electricity supply, ensuring well-functioning gas markets and others.

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EU’s Strategy to Tackle Hydrogen Emissions: Paper

EU’s Strategy to Tackle Hydrogen Emissions: Paper

February 28, 2025 | , , ,

Hydrogen (H2) is an indirect greenhouse gas (GHG). While H2 emissions make up a negligible fraction of today’s GHG emissions, they are set to become more significant in the 2030s and, should the EU and the global community progress towards climate neutrality, will likely be substantial in the 2040s, as achieving climate neutrality requires the expansion of hydrogen use alongside the rapid reduction of other GHGs. This paper explores how the EU can address H2 emissions using a four-pronged strategy.

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Electricity Infrastructure Development in EU: Report

Electricity Infrastructure Development in EU: Report

February 19, 2025 | , ,

The report “Electricity infrastructure development to support a competitive and sustainable energy system” by ACER concludes that focused development of distribution, transmission and cross-border capacities is essential for a secure, sustainable and competitive EU energy system. Infrastructure is key to enabling the integration of renewable generation and electrification of energy demand, and to unlocking the benefits of market integration, including a more optimal operation of the EU power system (reducing congestion management costs, redispatching costs and other such costs) and sharing flexibility.

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European Electricity Review 2025: EMBER

European Electricity Review 2025: EMBER

January 24, 2025 | , , , ,

The report summarises that the transition of the EU electricity sector maintained momentum in 2024, despite challenging political and economic conditions. Solar power grew strongly and overtook coal power for the first time. Another year of coal and gas decline – the fifth year in a row for gas – cut EU power sector emissions to below half their 2007 peak and further reduced reliance on imported fossil fuels. Significant progress has been made over the last EU political cycle, but delivery needs to be accelerated. The European Green Deal has delivered a deep and rapid transformation of the EU power sector. 

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Analysis of UK’s Clean Power Mission: Report

Analysis of UK’s Clean Power Mission: Report

January 17, 2025 | , , , ,

This report concludes that the clean power mission offers the chance to revolutionise the UK economy, accelerating the transition to net zero while reforming power policies so the benefits of decarbonisation are felt in people’s pockets. Reaching clean power by 2030 can be achieved with electricity bills at a similar level to today and reduced exposure to gas prices under existing pricing policies. However, our Electricity Bills Charter aligns the path for decarbonising the power grid with significant reductions in bills, which could offer savings of over £200 a year by 2030.

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EU’s Four Tests for Climate Action: Brief

EU’s Four Tests for Climate Action: Brief

January 10, 2025 | , ,

The EU’s new political term has officially kicked into gear. 2025 is set to be a particularly tumultuous year, yet one where Europe has a unique opportunity to rise to multiple challenges. Not least among them will be demonstrating that an accelerated clean transition is a viable pathway towards lasting stability, security and cohesion. This orientation briefing “Four Tests Driving Eu Politics In 2025 And What They Mean For Climate Action” by E3G sets the scene for what tests are likely to drive EU politics in 2025 and thus have the greatest impact for climate action.

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Ukraine’s Decentralised Energy Future: IEA

Ukraine’s Decentralised Energy Future: IEA

December 18, 2024 | , ,

Analysis shows that a diverse mix of DERs offers a cost-effective and resilient path for Ukraine’s power system recovery. Urgent actions include deploying small gas turbines and DERs such as solar PV and batteries to address a projected 6 GW winter power deficit in 2024/2025. The move towards a greater level of decentralisation in power generation can also support Ukraine in meeting its long-term decarbonisation goals. This roadmap outlines a pathway to rebuild and modernise Ukraine’s power sector amid ongoing attacks on its energy infrastructure.

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Linking Europe and North America for a Sustainable Energy Transition: EMBER

Linking Europe and North America for a Sustainable Energy Transition: EMBER

December 18, 2024 | , , ,

This paper examines how transatlantic interconnection could help both North America and Europe to achieve a more secure and efficient transition to renewable electricity. The future electricity grids of North America and Europe will be increasingly impacted by weather as they seek to decarbonise their energy systems. This paper explores the weather complementarity between the two grids and concludes there is substantial value in interconnection, which can help provide security and efficiency between the energy systems of these two continents.

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UK’s Renewable Energy Progress Review: EMBER

UK’s Renewable Energy Progress Review: EMBER

December 13, 2024 | , , , ,

Low-carbon renewable sources – wind, solar and hydropower – reached a record high, generating 37% of UK electricity (103 TWh) in 2024, overtaking fossil fuels (97 TWh, 35%) for the first time. Gas power use is set to decrease by 13% (-13 TWh) in 2024 compared to the previous year, displaced by electricity imports and clean power. Wind power is close to overtaking gas. It’s too close to call with only a 1% difference forecast, but depending on December’s conditions, wind could overtake gas as the UK’s largest source of electricity in 2024. UK wind power is currently forecast to generate 29% of UK electricity in 2024, totalling 82 TWh, which is 3 TWh less than fossil gas.

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Low-Biomass Clean Power for the UK: Report

Low-Biomass Clean Power for the UK: Report

December 12, 2024 | , , ,

A low-biomass comparison to the 2030 Further Flex and Renewables pathway in the NESO Clean Power report has been modelled with biomass capacity reduced by 2 GW compared to the current total. The equivalent to all but one unit of large-scale biomass is modelled to come offline in this clean power analysis, with power imports making up most of the reduction, as well as a slight increase in gas use for power (14%).

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Hydrogen Export Potential in Scotland: Report

Hydrogen Export Potential in Scotland: Report

December 6, 2024 | , , ,

Scotland has vast renewable energy resources. Our ambition for renewable electricity generation is to double Scotland’s overall renewable capacity to 35-39 GW by 20301. This wealth of renewable electricity will be the primary route to decarbonisation for many parts of our energy system and will additionally support electrolytic production of hydrogen at scale, opening new economic opportunities for Scotland to become a leading producer and supplier of renewable hydrogen in the UK and exporting this into key European markets.

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Sweden 2024 Energy Policy Review: IEA

Sweden 2024 Energy Policy Review: IEA

November 29, 2024 | , ,

This Policy Review aims to provide practical, timely advice to Sweden as it advances its energy and climate strategy. The report also highlights areas where Sweden’s leadership can serve as an example in promoting secure clean energy transitions. It also promotes the exchange of best practices among countries to foster learning, build consensus and strengthen political will for a sustainable and affordable clean energy future.

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European Hydrogen Market: Report

European Hydrogen Market: Report

November 22, 2024 | , , ,

The European hydrogen market is beginning to take shape, driven by ambitious EU-wide strategies and national policies. This report marks the start of ACER’s monitoring work on this emerging sector, in line with the hydrogen and gas decarbonisation package. It takes stock of recent developments and highlights key challenges from a regulatory standpoint. The report concludes that the current renewable hydrogen consumption remains minimal, and while EU renewable energy and decarbonisation targets could drive the demand, uptake so far has been slow.

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EU’s Energy Transition Planning Framework: Brief 

EU’s Energy Transition Planning Framework: Brief 

November 8, 2024 | , ,

This briefing “Moving Towards A Holistic Transition Planning Framework In The EU” by E3G and ECCO takes stock of the EU transition planning framework initiatives and calls for a systemic approach – moving towards a simple and holistic transition planning framework that aligns various governance systems and policy tools within the EU, while ensuring consistency with international climate goals such as the Paris Agreement. 

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Building Moldova’s Renewable Energy Infrastructure: Presentation

Building Moldova’s Renewable Energy Infrastructure: Presentation

October 24, 2024 | , ,

The Republic of Moldova is importing almost 100% of fossil energy resources (gas, gasoline, diesel, LPG,…) and about 70% of its electricity demands. To transition towards a carbon-neutral future, the Republic of Moldova should untap its renewable energy potential and invest in renewable energy infrastructure. Over the past years, the Republic of Moldova has shown strong political will to implement energy market reforms as a precondition for energy transition, enhanced energy security and climate change mitigation. Within the Energy Community Treaty, the Republic of Moldova has adopted the core EU energy and environment legislation.

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Electrification Action Plan for EU: Brief

Electrification Action Plan for EU: Brief

October 18, 2024 | , ,

The new plan can ensure that this previously underutilised technological lever receives policy attention. This briefing “An Electrification Action Plan To Secure Eu Industry’s Future Towards A Supportive Policy Framework” by E3G argues that industrial electrification can contribute to addressing a range of the EU’s top concerns, and can become a core pillar of the Clean Industrial Deal. E3G recommends that the proposed Action Plan sets out a vision for ramping up direct electrification in the industrial sector. It should form a core part of the announced Clean Industrial Deal.

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