[EA21] The EU’s big picture: renewables, flexibility and energy security

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Date & Time

February 28, 2024; 15h30 - 16h30 CET

Speakers

• Mihai TOMESCU, European Environment Agency (EEA)
• Aleksander GLAPIAK, EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER)

Announcement

To meet climate goals, EU Member States need to massively ramp up their renewable power capacity in the coming years. This increase in variable resources such as wind and solar also increases the need for flexibility in how we use the EU electricity system, while it decreases our reliance on fossil fuels.
In a joint report, the European Environment Agency and EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators advise EU regulators to promote doubling the EU electricity system’s flexibility by 2030 to meet the needs of renewable power supply. By collaborating strategically, Member States can unlock flexibility and enhance energy security, while contributing to long-term climate neutrality.

Join the Electrification Academy on 28 February as Mihai Tomescu of EEA and Aleksander Glapiak from ACER share insights gleaned from their 2023 study.

We will allow ample time for your questions following the presentation.

Recordings

Presentation

Download the slides

Highlights

• Flexibility in the EU power system needs to almost double by 2030 to keep up with the growth of variable renewable electricity sources.
• Enhanced electricity interconnection is key. More grids should be built across borders and the existing grid capacity used better. Interconnectors facilitate the efficient flow of electricity across borders to where it is most needed.
• Likewise, a combination of demand response and energy savings is key, not only to reduce energy bills but also to provide much needed flexibility, reducing the curtailment of renewable power supply and supporting Europe’s energy supply security.
• The EEA-ACER report calls for Member States to better assess national and EU-wide flexibility needs. Finalisation of the National Energy and Climate Plans and the biennial reporting of national GHG projections with energy parameters can become powerful tools to help Member States exploit synergies and coordinate regionally on flexibility needs.

Further reading

• Flexibility solutions to support a decarbonised and secure EU electricity system (EEA/ACER Report September 2023)
• Rapid growth in renewables calls for greater cooperation among Member States to double flexibility in the EU power system (EEA Press release, 20 Oct 2023)
• Demand response and other distributed energy resources: what barriers are holding them back? (ACER 2023 Market Monitoring Report, 19 December 2023)
• Report on Electricity Transmission and Distribution Tariff Methodologies in Europe (ACER, January 2023)
• Energy prosumers in Europe - Citizen participation in the energy transition (EEA, 2022)
• Trends and projections in Europe 2023 (EEA annual flagship report, 2023)
• ... and many more links in the slide deck!

Downloads