Will Europe back off on the green transition? Report Ft
The energy crisis exacerbated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine is pushing the European Union to relax environmental regulations. The Financial Times article
The EU is preparing to relax its environmental regulations as it seeks to replace Russian fossil fuels with renewable energy and imported hydrogen. The Financial Times writes.
Companies in the block would be allowed to build wind and solar projects without the need for an environmental impact assessment, according to draft proposals obtained by the Financial Times, which require rapid authorization of renewable projects in designated "go-to" areas. .
The 27 EU member states, which control energy policy, would be obliged to allocate enough of these areas to meet the bloc's renewable energy targets. A "strategic" impact assessment would be required before selecting an area.
"Long and complex administrative procedures are a fundamental barrier to investments in renewable energy and related infrastructure," according to the draft. The plans could "involve the occasional killing or disturbance of birds and other protected species," he added.
Russia's war in Ukraine spurred the EU to accelerate the adoption of alternatives to fossil fuels, which it pursued as part of its Green Deal climate goal to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2050. Last year, the blockade it also unveiled a series of measures designed to hit a medium-term goal of cutting emissions by 55% by 2030.
Frans Timmermans, European Commission Vice-President for the Green Deal, said on Tuesday that imported hydrogen is the only viable substitute for the gas used by European heavy industry, much of which comes from Russia.
“It is essential not only to reduce our carbon footprint, it is essential to keep our economy competitive. We need a new source of energy for sectors that are difficult to break down. And hydrogen is that source of energy, ”he said.
He also told reporters that Brussels will go "well beyond" its ambition of 40 gigawatts of green hydrogen capacity by 2030.
The EU has agreed to generate 40 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030, but the document, which will be published next week, could set a higher target. He called for a 30 percent increase in the take-up rate of green energy projects.
“In light of the unprecedented geopolitical situation created by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and high energy prices, there is a clear need for coordinated and urgent action to accelerate the spread of renewable energy,” the document said.
Brussels is discussing a ban on oil imports from Russia within six months and has promised to end the use of Russian gas by the end of the year. Russian gas accounts for more than 40% of consumption in the block.
Charles Moore, program manager for the European climate think-tank Ember, said the EU must push the construction of renewable energy infrastructure much further if it is to seriously replace fossil fuels.
The Commission has also proposed strict criteria for green hydrogen and how it is created by electrolysis, according to a separate draft seen by the FT.
Hydrogen would qualify as renewable only if during its production it does not increase the use of electricity generated from fossil fuels and if it returns as much renewable electricity to the grid as it consumes.
Timmermans was speaking on a trip to Rotterdam, where he supported plans by the Dutch port and its partners to produce and import 4.6 megatonnes of hydrogen per year by 2030.
The plans hinge on green hydrogen receiving subsidies and incentives similar to renewable energy, according to port authorities. Timmermans said he will support them, adding: "It is clear that we have to make sure that hydrogen is as competitive as possible."
(Extract from the press review of eprcomunicazione)
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/energia/unione-europea-transizione-verde-combustibili-fossili/ on Sat, 14 May 2022 06:05:50 +0000.