Brussels, 04/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - At an informal discussion in Gödöllõ on Tuesday 3 May of the 2050 energy roadmap to be unveiled by the European Commission in November this year and its social and economic implications, the EU's energy ministers focused on renewable energy. Solar, wind and wave energy will be given a key role for the long-term but according to a report by Hungarian energy minister Tamás Fellegi, who is chairing the Energy Council for the first six months of this year, the ministers said that CO2 emission reductions in the generation of energy must not affect energy security and affordable energy must be available for all households in the future. Aware that making Europe greener will cost dear and will force up fuel costs, the ministers said that consumers must be encouraged to use renewable energy. Several delegations called for gas and nuclear power to continue to provide a considerable share of the EU's energy.
A lower carbon society by 2020 will demand greater energy efficiency and energy savings, explained Fellegi and EU Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger. Following on from the roadmap for the EU to move to a low carbon economy by 2050 adopted on 8 March, the energy roadmap for 2050 is part of the EU's pledge to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 80 to 95% by 2050 from their 1990 levels. Oettinger said that the detail of medium-term strategies needed to be worked out, particularity for2030. In addition to using renewable energy and boosting energy efficiency, the Commissioner says that energy storage and carbon capture and storage technologies would be key.
Oettinger talked about the social and budget dimensions of the 2050 energy roadmap, pointing out that increasing energy efficiency would require more money from the member states. He said that the long-term aim was to stop using hydrocarbons as fuel. The Hungarian Presidency will now prepare a summary of the member states' contributions to the 2050 energy roadmap for the 10 June 2011 Energy Council. (E.H./transl.fl)