Electricity’s share in EU domestic demand for power could reach 27% in 2030 and nearly 50% in 2050, and at least 80% of this electricity could come from renewable sources, said Climate Action Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete in Hamburg on Tuesday 25 September at the Global Wind Summit.
Solutions other than electricity will be needed in sectors such as goods transport or various industrial processes, added Cañete.
The EU has the aim of reducing emissions by at least 80% on 1990 levels by 2050 and the European Commission is working on an updated long-term strategy to this end.
"We are determined to put our strategy forward in November this year, ahead of (the UN climate conference) COP24 in Katowice in December", said Cañete.
The strategy will look at the power, buildings, transport, industry and agriculture sectors, as well as potential sector coupling to increase overall efficiency. "The objective will not be to select a preferred scenario but rather to look at common trends and challenges. Clearly, electrification is such a common trend and will play a fundamental role in decarbonisation", he commented.
At the end of April, Cañete announced that he wanted to increase the greenhouse gas reduction targets for 2030 to 45% on the 1990 levels (see EUROPE 12078). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)