European Green Deal

In a bid to accelerate renewable energy deployment, the European Commission is looking at means to accelerate permitting processes.

EGEC has published an action Plan for implementing geothermal in Europe and as a support for the European Institutions to implement the REpowerEU and face the energy crises. Eight actions to allow geothermal to REpowerEU. Geothermal heating, cooling and power has already saved 10 bcm of gas and other fossil energy imports from Russia.

EGEC drafted a letter reaching out to the President of the European Commission to highlight the importance of geothermal energy in enabling the EU to meet its objectives of energy independence and mitigating the current energy price crisis as well as preventing future ones.

Geothermal heating, cooling, permanent electricity supply, underground thermal storage, and sustainable lithium extraction are critical solutions to meeting the EU’s 2030 and 2050 targets to avert the climate crisis.

Geothermal heating, cooling, permanent electricity supply, underground thermal storage and sustainable lithium extraction are critical contributors to energy efficiency improvements and the achievement of the EU’s 2030 and 2050 targets for energy efficiency and climate change mitigation.

Brussels, 15 December 2021 – Today the European Commission has released its proposals for establishing a new EU framework to decarbonise gas markets, promote hydrogen and reduce methane emissions.

The EPBD revision should apply the Energy Efficiency First (EE1st) principle in a way that stimulates integrated renovations aiming at highly energy efficient, renewable-based and flexible buildings integrated in the increasingly variable energy system. The entire building stock should become capable of adjusting their very low energy consumption, their on-site renewable generation and their energy storage potential in response to external signals. This holistic approachto the implementation of the EE1st principle leads to multiple benefits such as emissions reductions, grid optimisation and system efficiency. It also delivers tangible benefits to citizens, including the most vulnerable ones, strengthens the EU’s clean energy industrial leadership, boosts local job creation and economic recovery.   Download the full joint letter

Brussels 26 October: Reacting to the conclusions of the extraordinary Energy Council, the heads of 7 renewable energy associations call upon Europe to prioritise the diversification of renewable energy supply as a matter of urgency. A wider range of renewables will deliver a cleaner energy system that protects citizens and businesses from future energy shocks. To deliver on this 100% renewables future, action is needed now: • The revised Renewables Directive needs a sub-target to incentivise national governments to roll out innovative and diverse renewable sources by 2030; • The 2022-23 Horizon Europe Work Programme should prioritise diverse renewable energy technologies with the greatest potential for innovation and scale-up; • The European Commission needs to start modelling how a system of diverse renewables will operate, and to inform policy-making with these findings.   Download the full PR text

EGEC, together with other 9 environmental NGOs, cities and renewable associations called on Executive Vice-President Timmermans and Energy Commissioner Simson to increase target for renewable energy in the Renewable Energy Directive. Read the joint letter on renewable energy target here

EGEC contributed to the public consultation on the proposed changes to the Innovation Fund application procedure for large-scale projects.