Renewables: The Only Path to a Secure, Affordable and Climate-friendly Energy System by 2030

European energy policy is facing major challenges. In order to tackle the climate crisis, a dramatic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions is essential. At the same time, security of supply and affordable energy for a competitive economy must be ensured. Many conventional power plants in the European Union are old and will need to be replaced or modernised in the coming years and decades. In the light of these challenges, economic and environmental goals sometimes appear to require
opposite paths of action.

This paper demonstrates, however, that an expansion of renewable energy sources is the only path to a secure, affordable and climate-friendly energy system until 2030 and beyond. Renewables not only drastically reduce emissions and other environmental and social burdens; they also reduce energy import dependency and hence increase energy security, strengthen local economies, and create jobs. While fossil fuels and nuclear power will become more expensive, renewable energy will become cheaper. This is even more true if the external costs are factored in. Together with a reduction of energy consumption by increasing energy efficiency, total energy costs for European industries and citizens could even fall. Choosing the renewable path thus pays off in the medium and long term.

Ambitious and nationally binding 2030 targets for emission reductions, renewable energy deployment and energy efficiency are necessary to ensure an energy transition for a European Union for Renewable Energy.

Product details
Date of Publication
April 2014
Publisher
Heinrich Böll Stiftung
Number of Pages
34
Licence
All rights reserved
ISBN / DOI
D/2014/11.850/1
Table of contents

Executive Summary 4
Policy Recommendations 5

  1. The Challenges Facing European Electricity Supply 6
  2. The Need for the Renewal of the Energy Infrastructure 8
  3. The Failure of the Existing Electricity Market 9
  4. Production Costs for Renewable and Conventional Power Generation 13
  5. The Hidden Costs of Conventional Energy: Environmental Damage and Conventional Subsidies 18
  6. The Additional Costs of Balancing Renewable Energy Fluctuations 20
  7. Further Advantages of the Expansion of Renewables 23
  8. Documents Accompanying the EC White Paper on A 2030 Framework for Climate and Energy Policies 24

List of Abbreviations 27
References 27