EU unveils plans for future energy system

BRUSSELS, July 8 (KUNA) -- The European Union Wednesday presented two energy strategies aimed at giving the EU the lead globally in the energy sector.
The EU strategies for energy system integration and hydrogen, adopted today, will pave the way towards a more efficient and interconnected energy sector in Europe, said the European Commission in a press release.
"The current energy system (in Europe) is becoming a relic of the past, too wasteful , too rigid to be fit for a sustainable future," European Commission's Executive Vice-President, Frans Timmermans, told a press conference. He noted that from 2020 to 2024, the EU will support the installation of at least 6 gigawatts of renewable hydrogen electrolysers in the EU, and the production of up to one million tonnes of renewable hydrogen.
"From 2025 to 2030, hydrogen needs to become an intrinsic part of our integrated energy system, with at least 40 gigawatts of renewable hydrogen electrolysers and the production of up to ten million tonnes of renewable hydrogen in the EU," he noted.
"We want to stay ahead because the rest of the world is quickly catching up," he said and referred to the announcement of new energy facility going to be built in Saudi Arabia .
"They are talking about gigawatts , not megawatts in terms of production," he said about plans in Saudi Arabia.
On her part, EU Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson, told the joint press conference that "with 75% of the EU's greenhouse gas emissions coming from energy, we need a paradigm shift to reach our 2030 and 2050 targets. " "Hydrogen will play a key role in this, as falling renewable energy prices and continuous innovation make it a viable solution for a climate-neutral economy," she added. (end) nk.rk