The European Commission鈥檚 (EC) green deal package increased its target of reducing emissions for 2030 by at least 50% "and towards 55%" 鈥 up from the existing target of 40% 鈥 before reaching carbon neutrality by 2050.
However, this would leave a 鈥渂ackdoor for controversial and underdeveloped technologies such as carbon capture and storage鈥 and mean 鈥渇ossil fuels would remain a part of the energy system鈥, WindEurope said.
The lobby group is now calling for the target of net-zero emissions to be met with a renewables-only plan.
鈥淏eating climate change is about driving renewables-based electrification in road transport, buildings and most of industry. And scaling up renewable hydrogen in hard to abate sectors.
鈥淐learly opting for a 100% renewables scenario would avoid stranded investments down the road. A 100% renewables scenario must be the start of our conversation on how we deliver climate neutrality cost effectively,鈥 said WindEurope鈥檚 chief policy officer, Pierre Tardieu.
Earlier in March, WindEurope called on the EC to support the industry鈥檚 manufacturing sector as part of the European green deal.
WindEurope wanted the EC鈥檚 industrial strategy being developed as part of the European green deal to "send a strong signal that Europe wants its companies to stay global champions".
"The European Union needs five times more wind than it has today to go climate neutral. The question is: will these turbines be made in Europe?" asked WindEurope CEO Giles Dickson.
Tardieu, today, added: 鈥淭he EU Commission was absolutely right to emphasise that the transition to climate neutrality is irreversible. That will require Europe to install more than twice as much new wind energy each year as it managed in 2019 (15.4 GW).
鈥淭he Climate Law impact assessment should outline a credible path for the delivery of these volumes,鈥 Tardieu said.
.png)
.png)
