During the emPOWER Energy Transition Summit – held yesterday in Brussels to highlight renewables and smart energy contributions to the European Commission’s European Green Deal – the organisations’ CEOs stressed the importance for the EU to achieve climate neutrality.
SolarPower Europe CEO Walburga Hemetsberger said: “We believe that a 100% renewables-based energy system in Europe is possible, which would ensure a sustainable and secure future.
“In order to achieve this vision, it is urgent to deliver an ambitious industrial strategy for renewables, and establish the renewable sector as a strategic value chain for Europe.”
According to the signatories, the European climate law should accelerate the implementation of the Clean Energy Package – eight legislative proposals to help the EU transition towards a carbon-neutral economy. The climate law – set to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 – must empower the European Commission (EC) to secure the delivery of the EU 2030 climate targets, guaranteeing a 40% cut in greenhouse gas emissions and 32% of renewable energy.
The EU must also ensure collaborative electricity infrastructure planning, including integrating decentralised energy and developing an industrial strategy that encompasses supply and demand-side policies.
smartEn executive director Frauke Thies said: “Successfully decarbonising our energy system will depend on increasing renewables and energy efficiency, as well as unlocking flexibility on the demand-side. It is unthinkable to scale up one without boosting the others.”
