The Energy Ministers of the Member States agreed on the crucial role of innovative energy technologies such as smart grids, hydrogen and renewable energies for job creation, competitiveness and decarbonation of Europe in the context of the post-Covid-19 recovery on Monday 15 June at an informal meeting by videoconference.
“I believe that in the energy sector the available innovative technology solutions in renewables, energy storage, smart buildings or electro-mobility can make a […] rapid leap and spin our economies while supporting local businesses”, said Croatian Minister of Environment and Energy Tomislav Ćorić, who chaired the meeting.
Recalling the opportunities offered by the European Commission’s Recovery Plan to make the energy sector more sustainable (see EUROPE 12496/12), Kadri Simson, European Commissioner for Energy, also said that she strongly believes “that investing in future-looking technologies and innovation is crucial for our recovery and resilience”.
During this meeting, several Ministers stressed the importance of smart sectoral integration technologies, in particular hydrogen, and looked forward to the Commission’s strategies in these areas. Scheduled for 24 June, the presentation of these strategies has just been postponed to 8 July.
As regards hydrogen, six Member States (Germany, Austria, Belgium, France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands) and Switzerland signed on the same day a joint declaration in favour of the development of low-carbon hydrogen, inviting the Commission to take certain measures (see other news).
In addition, Ministers agreed on the importance of investing in the renovation of buildings, a sector that can play a key role in economic recovery, as the Commission is due to unveil its ‘Renovation Wave’ initiative in September (see EUROPE 12484/16).
At the press conference following the meeting, Mr Ćorić pointed out that some Ministers had also mentioned the exit from coal “as one of the greatest challenges”, in particular because of its social aspect.
National energy and climate plans.
The meeting was also an opportunity for the European Commission to inform ministers on the progress of the National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) and its revised work programme.
As regards the NECPs, Ms Simson pointed out that the individual assessment of each national plan by the Commission services will only be available in October, due to the delay in relation to the date of initial submission of the plans (31 December 2019 – see EUROPE 12504/32).
However, an assessment of the situation at EU level is expected to be published in September, together with an assessment of the implications of a potential increase in the climate targets set for 2030, the Commissioner added.
She further indicated that, according to a preliminary analysis by the Commission, the share of renewable energy in the EU’s energy mix should reach a level above 33% by 2030 (the current target is set at at least 32%). “However, in the context of the crisis and the fall of the renewable energy investments (see EUROPE 12496/25), we must make sure that progress in this area continues”, she then tempered.
On the other hand, in terms of energy efficiency, the gap with the current target (improving energy efficiency by at least 32.5%) has been reduced compared to the draft national plans (see EUROPE 12383/5, 12277/4), but remains significant, Ms Simson stressed. According to the Commission, the collective ambition gap would now be 3% for primary energy consumption and 3.2% for final energy consumption for the EU27.
Finally, the incoming German Council Presidency presented its work programme to the ministers. According to information gathered by EUROPE, while it expressed its commitment to advancing discussions among Member States on the four main upcoming Commission energy strategies (‘renovation wave’, offshore renewables, intelligent integration of sectors and hydrogen), the future Presidency has focused mainly on the hydrogen and offshore renewables strategies. (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)