To ensure we reach net zero emissions by 2040, EU Member States need to phase out fossil fuels and commit to a strong reduction in energy consumption and a transition of our energy system to one that is 100% based on sustainable renewable energy sources (RES) by 2040. The current 2030 EU RES target is not in line with the Paris Agreement objective to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C.
CAN Europe’s submission focuses on the work strands that are currently covered byCAN Europe’s submission focuses on the work strands that are currently covered byCAN Europe, namely the system development under the Ten Year NetworkDevelopment Plan (TYNDP), transparency issues and methane leakage.
CAN Europe welcomes the preparation of the EU offshore renewable energy strategy. To ensure we reach net zero emissions by 2040, EU Member States need to phase out fossil fuels and commit to a strong reduction in energy consumption and a transition of our energy system to one that is 100% based on renewable energy sources (RES) by 2040. The current 2030 EU RES target is not in line with the Paris Agreement objective to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C. In the coming decade and beyond, EU Member States need to significantly increase the deployment of renewable energy.
CAN Europe’s submission focuses on the work strands that are currently covered by CAN Europe, namely the system development under the Ten Year Network Development Plan (TYNDP) and transparency issues.
CAN Europe is asking both policymakers and grid operators to make the TYNDP fully compatible with the Paris Agreement. European energy infrastructure urgently needs to be prepared for a 100% renewable energy system, making use of all flexibility options in a swift and cost-effective way.
Future energy infrastructure planning in Europe needs to be fully aligned with the Paris Agreement. CAN Europe recommends to increase variation of TYNDP 2022 storylines by assessing higher ambition of greenhouse gas emission reductions. In order to reach the 1.5°C target of the Paris Agreement, a trajectory towards net-zero emissions in 2040 should be assessed.
Instead of primarily opposing “decentralised” and “global” solutions in the TYNDP 2022 storylines, at least one scenario should analyse how to prepare European energy infrastructure for a 100% renewable energy system in the most efficient way, combining the best out of both “decentralised” and “global” futures.
To limit temperature rise to 1.5°C, the EU needs to move to climate neutrality and shift towards a 100% renewables-based energy system by 2040. The current EU 2030 renewable energy target is not in line with what is needed to reach the Paris Agreement target. Under the Clean Energy Package, some new instruments have been created to encourage regional cooperation, considered to be an instrument to guarantee an effective attainment of the EU 2030 renewable energy target. CAN Europe considers that the Renewable Energy Financing Mechanism has the potential to foster a faster deployment of renewables. However, for a full impact, some improvements are needed.
Under certain conditions, renewable hydrogen can be considered as Paris compatible non-fossil gas. Under certain conditions, renewable hydrogen can be considered as Paris compatible non-fossil gas. Sectors where reducing emissions is most difficult such as the steel and chemicals or aviation, long-distance shipping and heavy-duty road transport could partly rely on renewable hydrogen or derived energy carriers such as liquid synthetic fuels or synthetic methane sourced from renewable electricity.
In an integrated energy system, energy supply and demand sectors interact more closely in order to facilitate a reduced energy demand and the quick scale-up of renewable energy sources. Based on the interplay of generators and consumers in a well-connected energy infrastructure, inefficient fossil-based technologies and back-up capacities can be phase-out more swiftly. An advanced integration of sectors’ energy demand prevents the societal costs of stranded assets. It allows for the use of existing infrastructure more efficiently, harvesting the potential of demand-side response and other flexibility options.
The EIB has made a commitment to aligning its operations with the Paris Agreement from the end of 2020. To get there it is developing a Climate Bank Roadmap 2021-2025 and inviting stakeholder input at various stages with the aim to finalise October 2020.