Today the European Commission published the annual State of the Energy Union Report 2024. The report takes stock of the EU’s progress towards the objectives of the Energy Union. SolarPower Europe has issued a statement in reaction.
Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of SolarPower Europe (she/her) said:
“The rapid move away from gas under this Commission’s mandate shows us what success is possible with the right political will.
It is clear that delivering energy security while continuing to depend on fossil fuels is counterproductive. Energy security will be strengthened through flexible, renewable electrification.
We support the European Commission in their efforts to secure ambitious – necessary – targets within National Energy and Climate Plans. While solar ambition in NECPs increased almost 90% between 2019 and 2023, grid and flexibility planning is lagging behind, with only 9 EU countries adopting energy storage targets.
At the next meetings of the EU Energy and Competitiveness Councils, we would urge Ministers to table an Electrification Action Plan. Europe can decarbonise and deepen competitiveness by accelerating smart, flexible, electrification – that means energy storage, demand-side response, and working on distribution grids, not just transmission. Flexible, renewable, electrification will cut day-ahead power prices by 25% by 2030 and 33% by 2040.”
Notes
- SolarPower Europe analysis in April 2024 revealed that, with 26 of 27 EU Member States having submitted their National Energy and Climate Plans, solar targets increased by 87% compared to previous solar goals. Despite the boost in ambition, NECPs fail to truly connect the dots with grid deployment, modernisation, and flexibility. Less than half of EU countries have appropriate energy storage targets, only 2 have planned relevant investment in their distribution grid, while only 4 set a specific goal for demand-side response.
- New modelling shows that more renewables, electrification and flexibility can boost European competitiveness, slashing average day-ahead energy prices by 25% by 2030, and by 33% by 2040. Discover Mission Solar 2040.
- The EU Joint Research Centre warns that Europe needs to double its energy system flexibility by 2030 and increase by sevenfold by 2050.
What is Flexibility?
Flexibility is the ability of a consumer, electricity generator, or any other technology (like storage) to adjust how they feed in electricity to the grid, or consume electricity from the grid in response to grid needs or solar availability. Flexibility means less investment is needed for slow-to-build grid infrastructure. We also need to focus on the efficient and smart operation of grids with smart electrified resources. In real life that looks like a solar power plant coupled with battery storage, or a smart charging station that charges a car when rooftop solar PV is producing abundantly.
While we need to ramp up battery and heat storage, we should ensure flexibility from the demand side too. We can follow the example of nuclear countries who employ flexibility from the demand side to manage inherently inflexible nuclear production. Since it’s hard to switch nuclear on and off, consumers are encouraged to spread out their demand for electricity. ‘Time-of-Use’ tariffs make it cheaper to use nuclear electricity at night, incentivising electricity consumption at night, when demand is typically lower.
Discover the #LetsFlex campaign
What is Electrification?
Electrification means building an energy system on the principal of electricity – rather than combustion. So induction cookers rather than gas hobs, and vehicles that run on electricity, rather than diesel and other fossil fuels. Today, 24% of Europe’s energy system is electrified. We should reach at least 60% electrification in the EU by 2050 to achieve climate neutrality.
Discover the Electrification Alliance
Questions? Get in touch.
Bethany Meban
Head of Press and Policy Communications
Header Image
Interested in becoming a member?
Why become a member?
Do you want to stay up-to-date about solar energy?
