A report “Energy Atlas: facts and figures about renewables in Europe” published by the European Renewable Energies Federation, Friends of the Earth Europe and the Green European Foundation explores the state of Europe’s energy transition and analyses the future shape of energy in Europe. Due to the support schemes for renewable energy and the rise of citizen’s engagement in energy  production, the energy system is taking a new course towards greater democratization and decentralization. Against the background of the  discussions over the EU’s next generation of energy legislation (focused on  the period 2020-2030), the report aims to contribute to an open and facts-based discussion on the European energy transition.

The report Energy Atlas reveals flowing findings:

   1)  A 100% renewable fossil fuel-free  energy system is now viable
   Although renewable capacity in the EU has increased by 71% between 2005 and  2015, renewable energy represents only 17 % of energy consumed in the EU. In  this context, the report reveals that energy efficiency and stronger energy interconnections across Europe can make a 100% renewable energy system  possible. In addition, currently available renewable energy generation technologies  such as modern storage and demand response technologies are now advanced  enough to meet EU’s energy needs. It is suggested that there is no need for  ‘backup’ nuclear or ‘dispatchable’ fossil fuel energy.

    2) European level cooperation and interconnectivity aids the energy  transition across the continent
   European level cooperation is an essential condition for energy transition.  First, EU member states are expected to join forces in research and development in renewables in form of cooperation projects such as Horizon  2020. It is worth mentioning that Europe’s renewable sector was second in the world in 2014, but it has now fallen to fifth, behind China, the US, Japan  and Brazil. In order to attract foreign investments, EU has to provide stable  and predictable legal environment. Second, it is understood that only  continent-wide interconnectivity can ensure the right conditions for  switching to renewables.

    3) Cities and ‘energy citizens’ are at the vanguard of Europe’s energy  transition – not the big energy companies
   The Energy Atlas reveals that the energy system is taking a course towards greater democratization and decentralization. Countries with the highest  share of renewables growth have the highest share of citizen participation in  the energy transition (e.g. Denmark, Germany). For instance, 42% of the  renewable energy installed in 2017 in Germany was produced by citizens and  energy cooperatives. In other words, energy citizens just in Germany produced  79 terawatt hours of electricity, equivalent to Europe’s top 15 largest  energy retailers. The role of energy citizens is expected to keep growing,  the Atlas projects that in 2050, energy citizens could produce twice as much  power as nuclear power stations produce now. Against the background of  climate initiatives driven by local and city authorities e.g. the European  Covenant of Mayors, the report understands cities to be frontline players in  Europe’s energy transition.

    4) A new kind of prosperity is emerging, with less dependence on energy imports and more local jobs

   Energy transition supports local well-paying and secure jobs in the  renewable sector. In 2016, there were 1.1 million jobs in renewable energy in the EU. As regards less dependence on energy imports, the report notes that  take-up of renewables has already helped slash Europe’s import bill for  fossil fuels by more than 35% since 2012. Nonetheless, EU still imports 54%  of its energy and the shift towards renewable energy holds untapped potential  for further reduction of the EU’s dependence on external energy  suppliers.

As regards fulfilment of the EU’s commitments under the Paris Agreement to keep global warming below 2 degrees Celsius, the report reveals that the energy transition is already well underway and the EU’s 2030 ‘Clean Energy  package’ sets out roughly the right direction for the path towards  renewables. However, EU fails to ensure the speed and depth of the  transition. Thus, the EU energy framework needs to be better aligned with its  long-term climate commitments.