STATEMENT

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The Commission’s Energy Roadmap 2050: an important step forward in realizing a decarbonised energy system for Europe

Foresight and long term planning of the Roadmap are welcome, but now Commission must encourage Member States to turn conclusions into policy action

Brussels, December 15th 2011 – The European Climate Foundation (ECF) today welcomes the release of Energy Roadmap 2050 by the European Commission. ECF acknowledges the extensive analytic work underpinning the report, which will give much-needed orientation to a sector for which long-term planning is crucial. It strengthens the key conclusion from the European Commission’s earlier communication of March this year, A roadmap for moving to a competitive low carbon economy in 2050, on the need for Member States to agree on adequate mid-term greenhouse gas mitigation targets.

The Commission’s document sets out various scenarios for how a decarbonised, competitive and secure energy system for Europe can be achieved. It usefully indicates the commonalities between these scenarios. It is these commonalities that will inform policy makers’ decisions as to what comes next in policy terms.

We are particularly pleased to see that the Commission has incorporated a number of conclusions drawn by various studies including those conducted by the ECF. These include:

1. Decarbonisation is possible and affordable – and can be even less costly than current policies over the medium to long-term
2. Higher capital expenditure caused by increased investment in renewable generation is off-set by lower operational expenditure thanks to low to zero fuel costs
3. Electricity will play an increasingly important role
4. Energy efficiency and energy savings are crucial prerequisites of the successful transition
5. The use of renewables rises substantially in all scenarios
6. Ensuring adequate infrastructure at distribution, interconnection and long-distance transmission becomes a matter of urgency.

The analysis contained in Energy Roadmap 2050 provides a strong analytical basis and justification for implementing the current policy goals that have been set for 2020. It will also help in establishing a new policy framework beyond 2020 that will ensure the EU reaches its 2050 goal of an 80-95% emissions reduction over 1990 levels.

The ECF strongly encourages the EC to initiate a dialogue with the Member States in order to drive the conclusions contained in the document into concrete and adequate policy actions at a national level and to consider the policy framework for 2030 to drive critical investments.

Arne Mogren, Director of the European Climate Foundation's Power Programme and member of the DG ENER Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Energy Roadmap 2050 said:

The Energy Roadmap is an important step forward in helping the EU create a decarbonised economy. Having published the Roadmap the Commission must now work with Member States to turn these good ideas into meaningful policy action.

For more information, please contact Tim Nuthall This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it +32 478 98 74 79

The report can be downloaded in PDF format: here