Improved and new policies needed to attain a zero-carbon European power system in 2050

Today, April 13^th, the European Climate Foundation launches the Roadmap 2050 in a meeting with the Commissioners for Energy and for Climate in Brussels. The Roadmap 2050 offers low/zero-carbon pathways, using 40%, 60%, 80% or 100% renewable energy sources. The outcome of this part of the project, carried out by McKinsey, is that the future cost of electricity in low/zero-carbon pathways is comparable to the future cost of electricity in the current carbon-intensive infrastructure. However, the required level of investment early in the cycle changes significantly as capital expenditures on the energy infrastructure need to double in the next 15 years. ECN’s task was to identify a range of policies to make the sketched roadmaps happen. A wide range of improved and new policies is needed, including improved energy efficiency policies, strengthening of the EU Emission Trading System, strong efforts to increase the share of renewable energy and stimulating carbon capture and storage. In addition, measures are needed to encourage transmission operators to develop infrastructure enabling low carbon roadmaps and to develop capacity markets for electricity as most zero CO₂ technologies have high upfront costs and low marginal costs.

Surf to ECN’s report A zero-carbon European power systems in 2050: proposals for a policy package.

Click on the Roadmap 2050 to find further information.

---