Dossier

100% renewable energy in Europe

Action Plan for the European Commission 2024-2029

Publication | Why 100% renewable energy? | Our Action Plan | Related content

In this dossier with Environmental Action Germany (Deutsche Umwelthilfe), we describe how the European Union can transition to 100% renewables. A fully renewable energy supply is the most pragmatic way forward in relation to the climate crisis and exploding fossil fuel costs. Europe has an abundant potential of domestic solar energy, wind energy, hydropower, geothermal energy and bioenergy. Switching to these resources will not only lower our energy bill for power, heat and transport. Using our renewable energy sources creates jobs and adds local value in European regions because we will not lose purchase power on importing expensive fossil fuels anymore. This relieves both the environment and public budgets as using renewable energies avoids health and environmental costs caused by fossil fuels and nuclear energy.

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Publication

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The 100% Renewable Energy Action Plan for the next European Commission

Policy recommendations
The climate crisis and energy price explosion have made it clear: the EU cannot afford its dependency on fossil fuels anymore. How to deal with these enormous challenges? Our 100% Renewable Action Plan for the next European Commission describes what needs to happen after the 2024 European elections to harvest the benefits of renewables.
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In the media

11.04.2024, Tagesspiegel Background Energie & Klima, Green Deal: Rufe nach europäischem Industrie-Deal mehren sich
4.04.2024, Tagesspiegel Background Energie & Klima, NGOs legen Aktionsplan für neue EU-Kommission vor (also here)
3.04.2024 POLITICO Europe Morning Energy & Climate, How to get 100% Renewables
2.04.2024, Table.Media’s Climate.Table, DUH and Böll Foundation: EU action plan for 100 percent renewables
2.04.2024, Table.Media Energiewende, DUH und Böll-Stiftung: EU-Aktionsplan für 100 Prozent Erneuerbare

Why 100% renewable energy?

✅ 𝗟𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿, 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁

Renewable energy has a price-dampening effect on wholesale power prices, as it is produced at near zero marginal cost (except for biomass as an energy source). The International Monetary Fund found that a 1% increase in renewable energy generation on average equalled a 0.6% power price decrease. This effect increases in size at higher renewable energy shares. The rapid expansion of renewable energy generation can thus contribute significantly to dampening the fossil-induced energy price shocks and inflation. This strengthens European industrial competitiveness and alleviates pressure on households. Overall, renewables have become the most competitive power generation technology for new investments and their cost advantages are set to increase even further.

✅ 𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗯𝘆 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝘂𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗳𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀

Domestic renewable energy generation can meet Europe’s energy needs without relying on authoritarian foreign governments for a continuous supply of fuel. The EU has sufficient own sustainable potential of solar, wind, biomass, hydropower and geothermal energy within its territory to fully cover its energy demand. By switching entirely to domestically produced renewable energy, Europe will become more resilient to geopolitical crises, preventing its energy supply being weaponized by foreign governments, and build up local value chains.

✅ 𝗔𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝘂𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆

Renewable energy technologies are the essential technologies to fight the climate crisis as they can replace all fossil fuel supply. Renewable electricity can also substitute fossil fuel use for transport and heating with zero greenhouse gas emissions and much lower environmental impacts than fossil fuels. The immense societal costs caused by climate change, the health impacts of fossil fuel combustion and the risk of catastrophic nuclear accidents are often ignored in energy policy discussions, as they are less visible or immediate than impacts on energy prices.

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Europe’s energy transition needs deeper integration. The North Sea is where it could start

Commentary
Cross-continental energy networks are the backbone of Europe’s energy transition. With the accelerated roll-out of solar panels and wind turbines, policymakers and grid operators now feel the back pain from limited energy infrastructure capacities. How can the EU rehab our existing electricity grids and gas pipelines? Two new publications from the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union provide guidance.
By Jörg Mühlenhoff
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100% renewables: the way forward to fix Europe’s energy and climate issues

Analysis
When confronted with energy price explosions and the climate crisis, the EU cannot waste time and money on castles in the air. Instead of betting on unproven solutions far from market introduction, such as small modular reactors and the broad deployment of all kinds of carbon removal technologies, the EU should build on what works right now. Renewable energy sources have proven to be by far the most relevant and reliable solution. In our new 100% Renewable Action Plan for the next European Commission, the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union and Environmental Action Germany (Deutsche Umwelthilfe) describe what needs to happen after the 2024 European elections to harvest the benefits of renewables.
By Jörg Mühlenhoff

Our 100% Renewables Action Plan for the European Commission 2024-2029

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Accelerate renewable energy deployment

  • Strengthen the EU climate and energy target architecture by adopting binding renewable energy targets for 2035, 2040 and 2045
  • Improve clarity on the decarbonisation pathways followed by EU Member States through reforming the Governance Regulation
  • A quick and enhanced implementation of the Wind Power Action Plan
  • Update the EU Solar Energy Strategy to open up underused PV potentials
  • Scale up the EU response to the global clean tech race with an ambitious Renewable Energy Investment Plan
  • Hold Member States to account on the binding obligation to propose a phaseout timeline for fossil subsidies
  • Propose an Action Plan for Energy Demand Reduction
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Put in place the right infrastructure and flexibility for 100% renewables

  • Prepare the gradual introduction of independent system operators (ISOs)
  • Launch infringement procedures to accelerate the implementation of legislation for flexibility solutions by the Member States
  • Update both the 2020 Strategies on Energy System Integration and Hydrogen
  • Provide guidance on how to make network tariffs fair and flexible
  • Revisit rules on capacity mechanisms to ensure that only 100% renewables-compatible capacity options are eligible
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Enable local authorities to manage the transition to 100% renewables

  • Widen the access to the Just Transition Fund to all regions that want to engage
  • Refocus EU cohesion policy on delivering the energy transition and realizing its benefits for less affluent regions
  • Improve the financing available to local authorities through the Energy Communities Facility
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How the next European Commission could secure clean and affordable energy for all

Analysis
At the end of the current legislative term, the disagreement within the bloc of 27 EU Member States on many climate and energy issues can hardly be hidden. However, new momentum is urgently needed to cut EU emissions, keep industries competitive and protect prosperity. With our 100% Renewable Energy Action Plan for the next European Commission, the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union and Environmental Action Germany (Deutsche Umwelthilfe, DUH) put forth priority actions for the following legislative term.
By Jörg Mühlenhoff

Related content

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Making the most of North Sea renewables

Factsheet
Europe has set out on the path to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, and all countries must identify how to deliver this objective. While various technology options are available, the need for vast amounts of cheap renewable energy is certain. The shallow, windy northern seas have long been recognised as a key opportunity to deliver renewable electricity at scale and recent reductions in the costs of offshore wind have led countries to set ambitious targets for deployment.
pdf
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Boosting participation in the energy transition

Report
As the European Green Deal enters its delivery phase, a fair, participatory energy transition is vital. This report explores tools to ensure that EU policies balance environmental sustainability with social equity, fostering resilience and inclusion.
pdf
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European energy infrastructure for 100% renewables

E-paper
The EU faces critical decisions on energy infrastructure planning and deployment to meet its climate goals, aiming for a 55% emissions reduction by 2030 and net-zero by 2050. A 100% renewable energy system, eliminating fossil fuels and nuclear energy is seen as the most viable solution. However, current EU energy infrastructure policy and planning are insufficient, risking lock-in to outdated technologies.
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Getting back on track with new EU climate and energy targets for 2035 and 2040

Factsheet
It is very clear that if the EU wants to make a fair contribution to the effort to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C, it will need to follow the recommendation of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and aim for achieving net-zero GHG emissions by 2040 rather than by 2050. This means the new EU 2040 target should become a net-zero target. It makes sense for the EU to set a very ambitious 2035 target of around 95% net GHG emission reductions at the same time.
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Back on track to Paris? Stock-taking of EU climate and energy targets beyond 2030 - Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union

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Accelerating the European Energy Transition

Policy Paper
In order to advance the European energy transition and distribute the costs and benefits more fairly, the EU must find better steering instruments. This policy paper provides recommendations for the necessary acceleration of the European energy transition.
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Overview of EU electricity market design: implications of the renewable rollout

Factsheet
The European Commission has proposed a reform in the electricity market design. Both the technical implementation of the reform and the notion that marginal pricing is to blame are contested, and have significant implications with regard to investments in renewable energy sources (RES). This factsheet summarizes the key changes proposed in the reform, whilst focusing on their effects regarding the integration of RES into the European energy system and the flexibility potential required to achieve this integration.
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Mind the gap: Addressing the deficits in the EU’s green industrial agenda

Interim report
Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union and Environmental Action Germany (Deutsche Umwelthilfe) have convened a group of over 20 experts from academia, industry, civil society and policy makers to discuss and identify several important policy gaps in the EU’s approach to renewable energy, which should be addressed to ensure that the EU’s new climate and industry agenda becomes as effective and globally equitable as it can be.
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EU public finance landscape for cleantech

Factsheet
To meet the EU climate targets, policymakers need to support both the rapid deployment and manufacturing of cleantech, while also strengthening the EU’s research and innovation ecosystem. Next to this, they need to consider a range of questions. How will their policy response deliver quality jobs for citizens? How will it bolster the EU’s resilience vis-à-vis Russia or China? And finally, how will it support the EU’s economic competitiveness in an era when large economies have entered a cleantech race? This factsheet reviews existing EU funding initiatives to accomplish this endeavour.
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The future role of gas in a climate-neutral Europe

Report
The EU must put an end to unabated fossil gas use by 2050 at the latest to comply with its climate neutrality objective. To stay within the Paris Agreement target of 1.5°C, the use of unabated fossil gas would have to end significantly earlier – by 2035. This report outlines the implications of this challenge for the management of the energy transition in a way that rapidly phases out Russian gas imports, protects security of supply and energy-poor consumers as well as the climate.
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