{"id":106499,"date":"2022-03-11T15:01:57","date_gmt":"2022-03-11T14:01:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/?p=106499"},"modified":"2022-03-11T15:22:28","modified_gmt":"2022-03-11T14:22:28","slug":"eus-green-independence-from-fossil-fuels-will-require-further-and-faster-action-say-ngos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/en\/eus-green-independence-from-fossil-fuels-will-require-further-and-faster-action-say-ngos\/","title":{"rendered":"EU’s green independence from fossil fuels will require further and faster action, say NGOs"},"content":{"rendered":"

As EU leaders recognised today in Versailles, our best chance to tackle energy prices and defund Putin\u2019s war chest lies in speeding up the green transition. The <\/b>‘REPowerEU’ plan<\/b><\/a> unveiled by the Commission on Tuesday is a good step in that direction but is still falling short of what is needed to wean ourselves off fossil fuels, the EEB says.<\/b><\/h4>\n

Russia’s military aggression in Ukraine had a tectonic effect on the course of Europe\u2019s history, starting with its energy model.<\/span><\/p>\n

After decades of growing dependence on Russian fossil fuel imports, Brussels has decided to make a \u2018U-turn\u2019 and present a fast-paced plan to cut the EU\u2019s Russian gas use by two thirds this year.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although the European Commission\u2019s emergency proposal to end dependence on Russian gas will pave the way towards renewables in the short-term, only ambitious action in the FitFor55 policy revision this year will enable a sustainable, secure and affordable supply of energy in the long run.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe ‘REPowerEU’ plan goes in the right direction but is a short-term solution that does not indicate how the EU will exit from its heavy dependence on fossil fuels. We should not waste this window of opportunity for setting out an exit strategy from fossil fuels. Else we shall remain locked in fossil fuels for an indefinite time while energy prices will keep skyrocketing and public money will have to make up for that. We must break this vicious circle\u201d,<\/span><\/i> said <\/span>Barbara Mariani<\/b>, Policy Manager for Climate at the European Environmental Bureau (EEB)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGetting rid of Russian gas while stepping up solar and wind power, energy efficiency and heat pumps are the right way forward. Swapping gas and oil providers, on the contrary, may end up with new fossil dependencies and continued\u00a0 CO2 and GHG emission lock-ins. Decision-makers should negotiate an ambitious Fit-for-55 climate package with a strong social climate fund, fast track the restoration wave and target the use of recovery funds to secure our energy independence by finally fully embracing the green energy revolution\u201d, <\/span><\/i>said <\/span>Patrick ten Brink<\/b>, Deputy Secretary-General of the EEB.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPrices for gas and electricity have already skyrocketed before the eruption of the war in Ukraine, hitting consumers hard, especially those on low incomes. Energy independence and sufficiency is not only the best way to stop funding Putin’s regime, but it is also our best tool to protect consumers from price volatility and prevent energy poverty\u201d,<\/span><\/i> added <\/span>Patrizia Heidegger<\/b>, Director for Global Policies and Sustainability of the EEB.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The so-called \u2018REPowerEU\u2019 proposal launched by Von der Leyen\u2019s Commission on Tuesday contains at least three different paths towards energy independence: one based on effective green solutions, other with some grey areas that need close attention, and a last one that will directly drive us into further fossil fuel dependencies.<\/span><\/p>\n

✅ Energy efficiency, renewables and heat pumps<\/b><\/h4>\n

We welcome the Commission’s pointing the right way forward to cut our dependence on Russia, which is reducing faster the use of fossil fuels in our homes, buildings, industry, and power systems, by boosting energy efficiency, increasing renewables and electrification.<\/span><\/p>\n

Under this new strategic orientation, the EU capitals must follow the Commission’s call to boost the Fit for 55 proposals with higher or earlier targets for renewable energy and energy efficiency.<\/span><\/p>\n

On the practical level, we celebrate the aim to significantly increase the instalment of solar panels on the roofs of houses, businesses, and farms, while doubling the installation rate of heat pumps over the next 5 years. Refurbishing buildings to reduce their energy demand, electrifying heating and making the most of renewable energy with photovoltaic and solar thermal panels will be indeed the most important step to break away from fossil gas in Europe.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c10 million heat pumps will be installed in the next five years. This is a highly welcomed signal for the market but a better one would be to completely ban gas boiler sales from 2025 in order to allow our homes to be gas-free by 2045. Moreover, these heat pumps must harvest the maximum amount of renewables by combining with PV and solar thermal roofs and must be running on climate-friendly gases: this requires the revision of the FGas regulation to accompany this historical uptake of this technology\u201d, <\/span><\/i>said <\/span>Davide Sabbadin<\/b>, EEB Policy Officer on Energy and Circular Economy.<\/span><\/p>\n

⚠️ Potential environmental risks and CO2 lock-ins<\/b><\/h4>\n

Since lengthy administrative procedures have been identified as one of the main obstacles for renewables deployment, the Commission\u2019s proposal to enable faster permitting is good news for the sake of accelerating the energy transition. However, this could potentially undermine the oversight of nature and biodiversity impacts of renewable infrastructure unless needed efforts are made to map out and choose areas fully suitable for investments.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAlthough renewables are put forward as overriding public interest, we must also be aware of the unintended consequences on nature and people that their production, transmission and distribution can lead to. Communication between energy and nature authorities must be key when developing these projects, as well as respecting current EU nature and water protection rules\u201d, <\/span><\/i>said <\/span>Sergiy Moroz<\/b>, EEB Policy Manager for Biodiversity and Water.<\/span><\/p>\n

The \u2018REPowerEurope\u2019 plan also overestimates the role of solutions with dubious green credentials, such as \u2018nuclear-based\u2019 hydrogen and biogas.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once again, the Commission is aiming at a hydrogen consumption level that does not take into consideration full implementation of resource and energy efficiency in the industrial sector: much of that hydrogen might not be needed and will drive away renewable electricity that is essential elsewhere to cut gas and oil consumption directly. The emphasis on new gas infrastructure, though hydrogen-ready, raises concerns of likely stranded assets.<\/span><\/p>\n

When it comes to biogas, the sustainable potential in terms of quantity is highly contested, and the Commission\u2019s proposed target, to roughly multiply current production by 10 in less than a decade, brings significant risks. Boosting biogas production could:<\/span><\/p>\n