2022-03-15-欧盟委员会-欧盟能源独立行动计划_争取更廉价_安全和可持续能源的欧洲联合行动_21页_1mb

REPowerEU: Joint European Action for Affordable, Secure, and Sustainable Energy

Introduction

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the EU faces a critical need to accelerate its clean energy transition. The EU imports 90% of its gas, with Russia supplying over 40%; reducing this dependency is key to enhancing energy security and affordability. This communication outlines the REPowerEU plan to eliminate reliance on Russian fossil fuels by 2030, focusing on diversifying energy sources and reducing demand through efficiency and sustainability measures.

Immediate Actions

To address the energy crisis, the EU will take swift measures, including:

• Mitigating retail energy prices and supporting energy-intensive industries and vulnerable households through state aid and price regulation tools.
• Ensuring sufficient gas storage levels to prepare for the next winter, aiming for at least 90% capacity filling by October 2022.
• Exploring emergency interventions like price caps on gas to limit electricity price contagion.

The REPowerEU Plan

The plan consists of two pillars: diversifying gas supplies and reducing fossil fuel dependency:

• Gas Diversification: Increase liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports (50 billion cubic meters/year), pipeline imports from non-Russian sources, and promote renewable gases like biomethane and hydrogen.
• Reducing Fossil Fuel Demand: Accelerate energy efficiency, renewable energy deployment (e.g., solar and wind capacities), electrification, and hydrogen production to minimize gas consumption by 30% by 2030.

Key initiatives include:

• Doubling EU biomethane production to 35 billion cubic meters/year.
• Producing up to 15 million tonnes of renewable hydrogen to replace Russian gas imports.
• Boosting solar PV and wind power installations, with goals for 30 million new heat pumps by 2030.
• Decarbonizing industry through hydrogen-based solutions and carbon contracts for difference.

Long-Term Strategies

• Energy Efficiency: Promote demand response measures and building renovations to reduce energy use.
• Permitting and Infrastructure: Simplify approval processes for renewable projects and ensure infrastructure is hydrogen-compatible.
• Market Reforms: Optimizing electricity market design to keep prices affordable while maintaining green transition investments.

Annexes and Support Measures

• Article 5 Guidance: Allows Member States to implement regulated prices for vulnerable consumers under exceptional circumstances.
• Tax Measures: Member States can use temporary fiscal tools to capture windfall profits from energy companies, redirecting revenue to consumers.
• EU-Level Actions: Proposing legislation for gas storage policies and coordinating with international partners to diversify supplies.

Conclusion

REPowerEU aims to rapidly transition Europe towards a sustainable energy system, reducing Russian dependency and enhancing affordability and security. Immediate and long-term actions will be implemented swiftly, with cooperation from Member States and partners by summer 2022. This plan underscores the EU's commitment to the Green Deal, fostering resilience and innovative energy solutions.