“Today, it is barely possible to build a single transmission line especially from one country to another, as a result of inefficient legislation and public opposition”, says Antonella Battaglini of PIK, one of the authors. “Unless we start today to build the infrastructure for a SuperSmart Grid for Europe and North Africa quickly and efficiently, we can abandon the dream of reaching the one hundred percent renewables power system by 2050.” Good progress has been made in the EU with the publication of the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity ten-year network development plan, she points out, but almost no progress to simplify permitting processes. Also, tools like benefit sharing and community involvement in the planning process need to be further explored
The report looks at whether the vision of full renewable electricity supply in Europe – not taking into account the heat market – has moved closer since the publication of a roadmap one year ago. It does so by analyzing key enabling factors as well as major events. The nuclear disaster in Japan, for instance, followed by the moratorium for nuclear energy in Germany, resulted in a ten percent increase in the cost of carbon emission allowances in the EU in the short term, improving the cost-benefit ratio for renewables.
For the market structure, there are mixed findings. Although the European markets are liberalized and theoretically competitive, in reality most markets do not function in the way that they need to. “We are doing well on market integration but competition is still missing”, says co-author Anthony Patt of IIASA. “Moreover the current turmoil in North Africa may be an opportunity for stronger collaboration on energy in the long term, but for the time being everything is on hold.”
There is a similar result for the investment climate. Governments have maintained their existing support mechanisms but do not provide reliable policy perspectives beyond 2020. “There has been a great deal of positive development in the last 12 months and we can be confident that the transition to renewables in Europe will continue. However, longer term planning, defining the overall direction of European electricity supply and ambitious and credible long-term political commitments are now needed to increase investor confidence and ensure that funding for renewable energy projects remains available”, says Gus Schellekens, a director in the sustainability and climate change team at PwC.
Two most relevant positive trends outweigh the negative ones, the study concludes. Despite the delays in the UN climate negotiations, political leadership is largely found to be supportive of continued development of renewables. And technological progress results in a significant expansion in the renewables capacities as well as in a cost reduction across technologies; those two factors are mutually reinforcing.
“The expansion of renewable energy sources is key to SEFEP mission”, says Martin Rocholl of the Smart Energy For Europe Platform SEFEP, the funder of the report. “This report shows that important steps have been made but also that without long term vision, political leadership and longevity of regulations it will be hard to reach the targets set. SEFEP will continue to build bridges across society to stimulate support for a fast and effective transformation into a largely renewable power sector.“
Weblink to the report
About PwC
PwC’s sustainability and climate change is a global network of 700 people. We are a leading adviser on sustainability, climate change, renewables and green growth, working with clients in both the public and private sectors internationally, to help them embed sustainability in their strategies and throughout their organizations
About PIK
The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research located in Germany addresses crucial questions in the field of global change, climate impacts and sustainable development. Natural and social scientists work together to generate interdisciplinary insights and to provide society with sound information for decision-making.
About IIASA
The International Institute for Applied System Analysis is an international scientific institute that conducts research into the critical issues of global environmental, economic, technological, and social change. Our findings provide valuable options to policymakers to shape the future of our changing world. IIASA is independent and funded by scientific institutions in Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe.
About SEFEP
The Smart Energy For Europe Platform is an independent, non-profit organisation founded by the European Climate Foundation and the Stiftung Mercator. Based in Berlin, SEFEP offers a platform to stimulate cooperation and synergies among all European actors who aim to build a fully de-carbonised, predominantly renewable power sector. SEFEP’s specific focus is the role that renewable energy sources play in driving a low-carbon transition, with a founding principle that deriving at least 70% of all electricity supply from renewable sources by 2035 is not only achievable but is the most certain pathway to reaching Europe’s 2050 climate and energy security objectives.
For more information please contact:
Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)
PR-office
Jonas Viering
Phone: +49 331 288 25 07
Mobile: +49 179 399 88 62
E-mail: press@pik-potsdam.de
PwC
Corporate Media Relations
Rowena Mearley
Phone: +44 20 7 213 47 27
Mobile: +44 78 41 563 180
E-mail: rowena.mearley@uk.pwc.com
International Institute for Applied System Analysis (IIASA)
Communications Department
Leane Regan
Phone: +43 22 36 807 316
Mobile: +43 66 44 430 368
E-mail: regan@iiasa.ac.at
Smart Energy For Europe Platform(SEFEP)
Project Manager
Loukianos Zavolas
Phone +49 30 76 77 19 453
Mobile +49 162 28 66 103
E-mail: loukianos.zavolas@sefep.eu
