Decarbonising Electricity

Key messages:

  • A net-zero EU in 2050 requires net-zero electricity emissions by 2040.
  • Achieving net-zero electricity emissions by 2040 in the EU is possible and affordable.
  • Net-zero electricity emissions by 2040 requires existing instruments to be tightened and extended in order to set out a clear long-term pathway to this goal.
  • There are technical challenges to the operation of zero-carbon electricity systems, which need to be addressed early, to ensure a smooth and secure transition.
  • Investments in innovation and skills, attending to all stages in the innovation chain, remain crucial to supporting the transition and capturing its economic benefits.
  • The political challenges are as important as the technical challenges, with attention to just transitions at the regional scale essential to meet net-zero targets.