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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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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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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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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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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The European Union (EU) has adopted the target to reach climate neutrality in the EU by 2050, enshrined in the 2021 EU Climate Law. This will result in declining workforces in certain industries as we transition away from a fossil fuel-based economy. To help regions and workforces affected by these declining industries, the EU offers funding promoting regional development and cohesion, including the Just Transition Fund (JTF).
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Renewable electricity generation increased 19 per cent in the second quarter of 2023 with the share of generation from renewable sources reaching a record high at 51.6 per cent of total generation. UK generation of electricity hit a record low at 63.5 TWh. The drop in electricity generation from gas contributed to a record low for the fossil fuel share of 26.6 per cent. Total final energy consumption was 1 per cent higher than in the second quarter of 2023.
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This “State of the Energy Union Report 2024” by the European Commission measures the EU’s progress towards the objectives of the Energy Union, the REPowerEU Plan and the clean energy transition in line with the energy and climate targets. Following last year’s State of the Energy Union report dealing with the challenges and achievements in 2020-2023, this year’s report updates on how the EU successfully acted on unprecedented developments and challenges in the last year of this Commission’s mandate.
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Ireland’s energy supply remains heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels. In 2023, 82.6% of Ireland’s energy came from fossil fuels. Ireland set a record high of 23.38 TWh in renewable energy use across electricity, transport, and heat for 2023, however its overall renewable energy share (RES-overall) was just 14.6% . Under the EU’s binding Renewable Energy Directive, Ireland has a minimum baseline RES-overall target of 16% every year out to 2030 and needs to achieve a RES-overall result of 43% by 2030.
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Prospective utility-scale solar and wind capacity amounts to 23 GW in the Western Balkans, 70% more than a year ago, and comparable to prospective capacity in Germany. Only 6% (1.3 GW) of prospective capacity is under construction and very likely to become operational. The buildout of solar and wind projects has the potential to displace operating and prospective gas-fired power in the Western Balkans. Serbia has the largest share of operating (29%) and prospective (47%) utility scale solar and wind capacity in the region.
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With a new government in place and laser-focused on revitalising the UK economy, the time is now for a comprehensive economic strategy centred on green prosperity. The Autumn Budget, and next year’s multi-year spending review, are opportunities to spell out this vision for renewal. The new government has set out ambitious targets and missions to reestablish the UK as a climate leader. The green economy is already a major source of growth and innovation. It surged by 9% last year, far outstripping the national growth rate of just 0.1%. Meeting the UK’s 2050 emissions target alone could unlock over £266 billion for the UK economy over the next three decades.
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Addressing emissions associated with automotive steel manufacturing is thus essential for reducing emissions from both the steel and vehicle industries. This report “Technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from automotive steel in the United States and the European Union” by International Council on Clean Transportation examines the technologies and actions available to reduce the emissions associated with automotive steel manufacturing.
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The purpose of the report is to cut through some of the complexity that exists by building a common understanding of the opportunity that the emergent global hydrogen economy presents the UK and to what extent innovation must play if the UK is to become truly world leading. The report considers the full end-to-end nature of the hydrogen economy to ensure there is a common understanding of the economic opportunity it could represent by 2050.
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The UK’s energy system supplies its electricity, transport, heating and industrial needs. Energy policies focus on delivering three main objectives for the system: affordability, security of supply and sustainability. The role of electricity is expected to increase with the increasing adoption of technologies such as heat pumps for heating and electric vehicles in transport. The UK’s electricity mix has been changing over time, as the proportion of fossil fuels such as coal reduces, and the proportion of renewables increases.
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Only 2.2% of the EU’s total land will be required by current and future solar and wind projects to achieve climate neutrality by 2040, phasing out both fossil and nuclear generation in the process. Under the JRC’s assessment criteria, most of the suitable land for renewables in the EU is located in rural areas, with 78% for ground-mounted solar photovoltaic systems and 83% for onshore wind. Realising a European interconnected supergrid will be essential to achieve 100% renewables, allowing solidarity and reducing energy waste.
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To protect the economy and permanently lower bills, Great Britain needs to get off gas and rapidly build a low-cost, clean electricity system. This report “Cheap, Clean Electricity For Great Britain By 2030: A Framework To Lower Bills And Protect The Economy” by E3G sets out a framework for how this can be achieved, using the Labour Government’s 2030 clean power target as the guiding star. Great Britain must transition rapidly to a clean electricity system or else it will be forced to build more expensive gas power stations by default. This new system should be underpinned by wind and solar power and managed with flexible demand and storage. These technologies can all lower bills.
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UK offshore wind is critical to decarbonise the power sector and reduce exposure to volatile gas markets. There’s still a gap between targets and capacity being delivered, but quick policy wins are available to boost the industry. 20 GW of new offshore wind needed by 2030. Boosting the auction budget by 25% would cut the UK’s gas import bill.
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A more supportive policy framework and public investment of just £2.1–3.5bn can put the UK on the path to a clean steel future that supports both the economy and people. UK steel demand is set to grow 26% by 2030. As an extremely carbon-intensive material – production making up 2.4% of the UK’s territorial emissions – it is crucial that the UK decarbonise its steel supply to mitigate the impacts of climate change. A brighter future for UK steel is possible.
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This paper “Potential Regulatory Frameworks for Cross-Border CO2 Transport between the EU and UK” by the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies outlines the history and current state development of CCS in Europe. Upon that basis, potential regulatory frameworks that can enable a competitive cross-border CO2 transport and storage network between Western Europe and the UK are explored and proposed.
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The big takeaway from the European Parliament elections: the centre has held, but a trend in far-right gains continues. This means that Europe’s fight against climate change can go on but is faced with a trickier political landscape at a time when big decisions need to be taken. A fair and green industrial / competitiveness deal still looks within reach in the negotiations for the incoming European Commission. However, EU leaders will face a major test on securing enough financing to make it a reality.
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