Press release - November 16, 2010
Brussels, International — Tomorrow the European Commission adopts its discussion paper on energy infrastructure priorities for 2020 and beyond. Greenpeace welcomes important elements of the communication such as...
- the presentation of a Europe-wide approach to grid development that could allow green energy generated in one region to be shared with others;
- a list of priority projects, like a North Sea Grid, to help integrate significant volumes of renewable energy;
- an emphasis on smart grids, which will help local-level renewable generation and secure continuous energy supply.
However, Greenpeace EU energy policy advisor Frauke Thies said: "The Commission has missed the opportunity to tackle the real energy issue that all governments in Europe should be addressing. If they do not make the strategic choice to develop a clean, flexible energy mix we will end up with a wasteful and expensive energy system that tries to combine the growing share of renewables with old-fashioned, inflexible and dirty coal and nuclear. The Commission has presented some critical tools to help us along the path to a green future, but shied away from showing EU countries the way."
The communication also marks a change in the Commission's tone on carbon capture and storage. While it talks of a potential CO2 network infrastructure, it warns that such plans should be treated with "great caution" because of the costs involved.