Scaling up renewable electricity sources across the EU could reduce electricity generation costs, improve energy independence, and support the transition towards clean industry, according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) report. At the same time, accelerating the electrification of heating, transport and industry is needed to support Europe’s clean and competitive future.
The EEA report ‘Renewables, electrification and flexibility — for a competitive EU energy system transformation by 2030’ finds that the European Union has already demonstrated its ability to shift away from fossil fuels, with electricity-sector CO2 emissions dropping significantly over recent decades. In comparison, progress in decarbonising heating and transport, where gas and oil consumption dominate, is slower.
In 2022, higher gas prices doubled the EU energy import bill, bringing it up to 4% of GDP. The report underscores that renewables, particularly solar and wind, offer a sustainable path toward increased energy independence.
By investing in domestic renewable electricity generation, alongside stronger efforts to improve energy and resource efficiency, Member States can replace volatile fossil fuel imports with available, lower-cost and cleaner energy sources.
Leena Ylä-Mononen, EEA Executive Director said: “This is not just about achieving climate targets. Shifting to more renewables and electrification is an opportunity to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels. That would lower wholesale electricity prices in the medium term, and reinforce Europe’s resilience and strategic autonomy in an increasingly uncertain geopolitical context.”