ENERGY-CLIMATE STRATEGY : EU ENERGY MODEL PREDICTS 80% CARBON INTENSITY REDUCTION.

The carbon intensity of the EU energy system (CO2 emitted for each unit of energy supplied) can be reduced by up to 80% via the use of innovative technologies, and a 60% reduction could be achieved in the energy intensity of production (energy per GDP) when coupled with reductions in demand. These are the possible results from scenarios played out in a new energy system model that studies the EU's most cost-effective technology mix, the EU JRC TIMES model, devised by the Joint Research Centre (JRC), the European Commission's in-house science service.

Spanning 2005 to 2050, the model covers all EU28, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and the Balkan states, modelling technology uptake and deployment and interaction with energy infrastructure. It provides assessment for how energy technologies will meet EU energy and climate change objectives, like the 40% CO2 emission reduction targets in the 2030 package.

Policy-relevant issues and questions, such as EU-wide deployment of low-carbon technologies, the most cost-effective technology mix in meeting EU targets and the performance improvements and cost reductions that are needed to make innovative technologies competitive are explored in EU JRC TIMES, according to a report just published on the JRC website(1). It covers energy supply and demand, which include seven factors: primary energy supply, electricity generation, industry, the residential sector, the commercial sector, agriculture and transport.

PATHWAY

The EU JRC TIMES model report uses a reference scenario, the Current Policy Initiative scenario...