Presentation
A key element in achieving carbon neutrality and European competitiveness, the transition of Europe's electricity system has been proceeding apace since the energy crisis and the implementation of the RePowerEU strategy. Despite recent progress, the targets set for 2030 remain highly ambitious and require a number of major challenges to be met, linked to the deployment and integration of renewable electricity production, alignment with the green reindustrialization agenda and political and public ownership of this transition, which was put to the test during the recent energy crisis.
Key Messages
- By 2023, low-carbon energies (renewable and nuclear) accounted for two-thirds of the European electricity mix, leading to a reduction in CO2 emissions from the European electricity sector of almost 20%, thanks to the reduction in the use of coal. At the same time, consumption has fallen sharply under the combined effect of sobriety and efficiency policies and the phenomenon of demand destruction in industry.
- By 2030, Europe's ambition is to reduce the share of fossil fuels in the electricity mix to less than 20%, while achieving 70% renewable electricity. This means doubling the rate of wind power installations and maintaining the record pace achieved by solar power in 2023.
- Against a backdrop of intense international competition, it will be essential to clarify the place of renewable energies in Europe's industrial strategy: while solar energy is currently benefiting from growing political support, strong measures will be needed to preserve the European wind energy sector, and the challenges associated with the massive development of network infrastructures should not be overlooked.
- This transition also means continuing to reform the architecture of the electricity market, with a delicate balance to be struck between the need to meet the challenges of integrating renewable energies and deploying flexibilities, and the ability to ensure competitive and accessible prices for the various consumers (industrial and residential in particular).
- At the political level, the energy crisis has reinforced the need for a strong strategic vision of the role of the electricity transition as a key to European competitiveness and resilience, as well as greater attention to the issues of ownership of local projects.
