100% Renewable Europe (SolarPower Europe, April 2020)

100% Renewable Europe (SolarPower Europe, April 2020)

SolarPower Europe and LUT University have launched a new report that models a 100% renewables scenario for Europe to reach climate neutrality before 2050. The study is the first of its kind to model a fully renewable pathway to achieving climate neutrality for the European energy system, presenting three transition pathways, with varying levels of ambition. A key finding of the report is that the low ambition pathway in Europe is a burden for society, from both a climate change and economic perspective. The 100% renewable scenarios result in lower per unit energy costs and show that achieving climate neutrality by 2050 is more cost-effective compared to a lower level of ambition.

Key findings of the report:

• A 100% renewable energy system enables the EU to become climate neutral before 2050 in the most cost-effective manner
• A 100% renewable energy system in Europe will lead to sharpest decline in GHG emissions, down to zero by 2040
• Solar power is set to generate more than 60% of EU’s electricity by 2050
• EU energy system needs high rate of electrification and sectoral integration