Towards the 2050 Renewables Vision

Background

Long-term policies and concurrent investments in renewables and energy efficiency require a strong, clear, long-term technical, economical, social and political vision - the perspective of a fully decarbonized and predominantly renewable European power sector by 2050. This vision will bolster difficult decisions regarding the phase-out of non-renewable power plants and gather broad societal support for the necessary renewable infrastructure and associated costs.

A lively discussion on the exact shape and strategies of this long-term vision will accompany us throughout the next decades. Substantial work has to be done to further develop, refine and strengthen the vision, and to broaden mutual stakeholder understanding and support for this vision. Technical, political and economic challenges remain to be tackled, and over time, new research and technical developments will need to be integrated, as well as shifting political climates and geopolitics taken into account.

Furthermore, the political outreach of the vision needs to be deepened beyond current key actors: The development of a renewable Europe 2050 will have to rest on socially and geographically broad support – support of all parts and levels of society, among decision makers and opinion leaders as well as the general public; support in a large number of countries beyond a few lead countries and the Brussels sphere. Activating so far passive support for an energy transition is one aspect of creating societal and political momentum, carefully addressing the arguments and doubts of skeptics and opponents another.

SEFEP's activities

SEFEP aims at tackling key issues relevant for the further development, refinement and strengthening of the long-term vision for a renewable Europe 2050 by supporting analysis for political agenda setting. SEFEP’s activities include:

➢  Evaluating Progress Towards 100% Renewable Electricity: This study is meant to reinforce the message that a 100% renewable power is possible if the right policies are in place.  

➢  2050 Power System Decarbonization Visions - A Metastudy: This metastudy provides an overview of the relevant energy scenarios for Europe and identifies robust corridors for political action.

➢  Energy Security in Scenarios for Europe’s Future Electricity: This project looks at the definition, assumptions and criteria for security of supply in different decarbonization scenarios and, on that basis, aims at developing a common methodology.