Expert Meetings on the Europeanisation of Renewables
After Fukushima, European citizens have become increasingly sceptical about nuclear energy. To shift towards renewable energy sources we must show that the European electricity demand can be covered with renewables in a reliable and cost-effective way. On the one hand technical preconditions have to be fullfilled (strengthening the electricity grid infrastructure), while on the other hand proper support for renewables is needed to enhance the capacities of renewable energy sources.
With ERENE, the Heinrich Böll Foundation promotes the idea that European electricity demand can be covered exclusively with renewable energy sources through joint European action. The projected European Community for Renewable Energies (ERENE) intends to pool strengths and resources within the EU, optimizing the development and exploitation of renewable energy.
The Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union initiated a series of expert meetings which ran from November 2011 to July 2012, to work on long-term approaches towards European governance structures for renewable energy in two key areas: grids and support schemes for renewables.
The existing European electricity grids are not conceived for an intermittent feed in of electricity from renewable energy sources. During the meeting questions were posed such as: What European competences are necessary to develop grid extensions that would enable the transition to renewable energy sources? How can grids be designed to be compatible with a “decentralised” production of renewables? Additionally, Member States across Europe have support schemes to promote renewable energy sources. The incentives for the development of renewables vary between the Member States bringing different dynamics into play. Discussions took place on the topics: What support is needed to enhance the transition to renewables in Europe? Could and would a European alignment of support schemes increase the share of renewables?
The working group, composed of renowned experts, have developed different proposals and concepts for a European regulation of grids and support for renewables. The working group's results will contribute to the European debate and are presented by the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union in the report 'A European Union for Renewable Energy'.