Energy efficiency must apply across all renewables, EU Commission says

(EurActiv, 13 Apr 2021) Europe needs a massive increase in renewable electricity to meet its 2030 decarbonisation targets, including a ramp up of clean hydrogen production from electrolysers, a senior EU official has said.

To ensure Europe’s scarce renewable electricity resources are used where they’re needed most, the EU’s climate targets must be supported by the energy efficiency first principle, said Paula Pinho from the European Commission’s energy directorate.

“We believe that, first and foremost, we need to continue to apply the energy efficiency first principle, ensuring that really we make the most out of our limited resources,” Pinho said at a EURACTIV debate on Europe’s energy transition.

The European Union aims to at least halve its emissions by 2030 and reach net-zero by 2050. To achieve that, Europe will need to roughly double the share of electricity in energy consumption. By mid-century, 53% of Europe’s energy needs will be met by electricity generated from renewables and nuclear, according to the European Commission’s long-term scenarios.

This means almost half of Europe’s remaining energy consumption – composed of liquid fuels and gases – will also need to be decarbonised, which is why the EU is now looking to hydrogen as a solution.

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EurActiv, 13 Apr 2021: Energy efficiency must apply across all renewables, EU Commission says

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