Positive Energy: how renewable electricity can transform ... - WWF UK

KEY FINDINGS
OF THE ROADMAP
2050 REPORT:
The European Climate Foundation’s Roadmap 2050 report looked at
scenarios for decarbonising the European electricity system. Its key
findings included
• Energy efficiency measures could reduce the cost of decarbonising
the European power sector by up to 30%, thus avoiding the
construction of 440 mid-sized coal power stations.
• A future European electricity supply system based on
100% renewable energy and enhanced interconnection is
technically feasible. Nuclear and coal CCS plants “are not
essential to decarbonise the power sector while safeguarding
system reliability”.
• Increased interconnection between EU member states can
substantially reduce the costs of building a European renewable
electricity system. In the 80% renewable energy scenario, increased
interconnection at EU level reduces the amount of back up power
stations needed by up to 35% to 40%.
• Building interconnection infrastructure amounts to a small part of
total infrastructure spending in the EU power sector (0.5% to 1.6%
of total power sector costs, according to the report’s 40% to 80%
renewable energy scenarios).