On the first day of the fifth PCI Energy Days (see EUROPE 13485/19) on Monday 4 November, the European Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson, reiterated her call for investment in electricity and hydrogen networks, in particular through the funding instrument ‘Connecting Europe Facility’ (CEF) (see EUROPE 13510/23).
She pointed out that this tool had already supported more than 130 cross-border infrastructure projects, some of which had played “an essential role in ensuring energy security, particularly during the recent crisis”.
In his report, Mario Draghi also called for massive investment in energy infrastructure to boost European competitiveness (see EUROPE 13493/9).
Although the CEF has made it possible to develop projects of common interest, such as the Baltic Pipe project linking Norway to Poland via Denmark and the GIPL project between Lithuania and Poland, the Commissioner believes that it is underfunded.
The last call for projects attracted 70 proposals, requesting total funding of almost €4 billion, almost five times the planned budget of €850 million (see EUROPE 13402/8).
“I have again and again argued for an increased budget for CEF energy projects, and I do hope that the next Commission will follow up”, explained Ms Simson.
She went on to call for smarter grids, more offshore wind turbines and infrastructure for hydrogen and electrolyser projects.
During the event, the Commissioner also organised a ceremony with the Director of the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA), Paloma Aba-Garrote, to mark the signing of five grant agreements under the CEF for projects aimed at contributing to the construction and development of an EU-wide CO2 transport and storage infrastructure.
The projects that have received funding (Northern Lights, CO2next, Aramis, d’Artagnan and Studies4CCS Interconnector), totalling €451.5 million, aim to support the transport of almost 35 million tonnes of CO2 per year from industrial emitters to permanent geological storage.
To see the projects, go to https://aeur.eu/f/e67 (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)