Category: Knowledge Center Europe

Overview of UK’s Energy Sector: Report

Overview of UK’s Energy Sector: Report

August 2, 2024 | , ,

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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Sustainable Energy Transition in Europe: Brief

Sustainable Energy Transition in Europe: Brief

July 26, 2024 | , , ,

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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Great Britain’s Clean Electricity Framework: Report

Great Britain’s Clean Electricity Framework: Report

July 19, 2024 | , ,

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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Establishing Clean Steel Supply in the UK: Report

Establishing Clean Steel Supply in the UK: Report

July 5, 2024 | , , ,

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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Cross-Border CO2 Transport between EU and UK: Paper

Cross-Border CO2 Transport between EU and UK: Paper

June 28, 2024 | , ,

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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EU Climate Action After Elections: Brief

EU Climate Action After Elections: Brief

June 21, 2024 | , ,

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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Powering Up Central and Eastern Europe: Report

Powering Up Central and Eastern Europe: Report

June 7, 2024 | , ,

Countries in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) have long been regarded as laggards in the EU clean energy transition. The EU’s Green Deal, and its approach of combining a lift in climate ambition with new financial and other support instruments, has however started to change this picture. A new European Commission should now build on progress made and step up its support for the energy transition in CEE countries. The CEE region is particularly critical to the success of the EU’s energy transition. This report analyses progress made in eight CEE countries.

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Onshore Wind Planning in UK: Brief

Onshore Wind Planning in UK: Brief

May 24, 2024 | , , ,

This briefing “Planning for onshore wind” by The House of Commons Library focuses on onshore wind planning in UK. All onshore wind turbines, except for small-scale domestic turbines, require planning permission from the local planning authority (LPA) in England. In September 2023, the government updated national planning policy to provide that LPAs should approve planning applications for an onshore wind farm.

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Industrial Blueprint for Batteries in Europe: Report

Industrial Blueprint for Batteries in Europe: Report

May 17, 2024 | , , ,

As Europe is decarbonising its economy, it is facing a monumental challenge to rebuild the fossil-based system into a carbon free one. Batteries and the materials that go into making them are central to the effort to clean up cars, trucks and buses as well as to expand renewable energy networks. This report “An industrial blueprint for batteries in Europe” by Transport and Environment analyses the progress, as well as challenges associated with onshoring this supply chain, providing an industrial footprint for governments to build a local, resilient and sustainable battery supply chain.

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Grid Roadmap for the European Union: Brief

Grid Roadmap for the European Union: Brief

May 10, 2024 | , ,

The aim of this joint policy brief to “wire the EU for climate neutrality – a Paris Agreement Compatible (PAC) roadmap for power grids”, authored by Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe and the European Environmental Bureau (EEB), is to identify the needed type of infrastructure and grid capacities necessary for a 100% renewable energy system (RES). It explores a pathway that aligns with achieving climate neutrality by 2040 across the EU27, and securing energy supply while remaining within the +1.5°C threshold.

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Europe’s External Climate Security Strategy: Paper

Europe’s External Climate Security Strategy: Paper

April 26, 2024 | , ,

Global Gateway puts principled connectivity at the core of the EU’s external action, linking geoeconomic and climate diplomacy with development policies under a Team Europe approach. Selected projects are to be driven both by the needs of partner countries and the EU’s interests. The aim is to mobilise 300 billion euros in investments by 2027 by using public funds to crowd in private investments. The private sector is to play a key role in shaping the Global Gateway actions.

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Solar and Wind Energy Mapping for Ukraine: Report

Solar and Wind Energy Mapping for Ukraine: Report

April 19, 2024 | , , , ,

A secure supply with heat and electricity became a major challenge to many households in Ukraine as Russia systematically attacks critical infrastructure. This dire situation puts an immediate increase of the country’s energy resilience to the forefront of the political agenda. Given Ukraine’s outstanding size and land area, the country has the potential not only to be self-sufficient in energy supply, but it can also become a bigger exporter of green electricity and hydrogen.

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Recommendations for 100% Renewables in EU: Paper

Recommendations for 100% Renewables in EU: Paper

April 12, 2024 | , ,

Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union and Environmental Action Germany have convened a group of over 20 experts from academia, industry, civil society and policy-makers from EU institutions to identify the key challenges of the EU’s energy transition. The expert group met five times in 2023 to develop proposals on how to achieve a 100% renewable energy-based EU economy. 

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Future of UK’s ECO: Briefing

Future of UK’s ECO: Briefing

March 29, 2024 | , ,

The energy company obligation (ECO) is the government’s flagship fuel poverty alleviation programme, and one of the main pillars to improve overall energy efficiency. Changes to the scheme have led to a fall in the number of installations. Reform of the programme is needed to ensure it can play a central role in meeting the UK’s statutory target to end fuel poverty by 2030. ECO’s ability to act as a vehicle to deliver home upgrades has proved successful in the past.

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EU Policy to Navigate Climate Geopolitics: Paper 

EU Policy to Navigate Climate Geopolitics: Paper 

March 17, 2024 | , ,

Focused and co-developed clean transition partnerships would help the EU strengthen its geopolitical position in an increasingly multipolar world. Doing so is critical to preserve Europe’s influence as an international actor, and essential to the long-term viability, security, and prosperity of the EU project. Clean transition partnerships can contribute to rebuilding trust with the Global South by making a strong case for cooperation with the EU.

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Climate Action Data Transparency in Europe: Report

Climate Action Data Transparency in Europe: Report

March 8, 2024 | , ,

This report “Transparency And Access To Data On Climate Action” published by Climate Action Network Europe is a first assessment to analyse transparency and access to national data for improving climate public awareness and monitoring climate policies (NECPs) implementation. It presents information about the experience and obstacles encountered when gathering climate and energy data relevant to assess the NECPs.

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Decarbonizing Germany’s Heating Sector: Report

Decarbonizing Germany’s Heating Sector: Report

March 1, 2024 | , ,

This report “Decarbonizing Germany’s heating sector” by the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies concludes that with the Climate Protection Act Germany has stringent legislation to meet net zero by 2045, but its implementation focuses narrowly on renewables and HPs to the detriment of a balanced approach, including the use of CCS as another major avenue to decarbonization. The discussion must be widened to accept a hybrid solution, instead of betting exclusively on special solutions which foreseeably will not meet net zero by 2045.

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