The transition to an efficient, renewables based energy system will require the electrification of large parts of sectors like transport, buildings, and industry.

This will lead to an increase in electricity demand.

So it is imperative that Europe’s power system is completely decarbonised. EU policy makers have to provide the signals that give market actors the confidence they need to invest in this change.

The European Commission has made some positive proposals. But more can be done to integrate energy efficiency, demand-side response, and renewable energy into the EU’s power system. 

WWF's five key asks - outlined in this paper - are as follows:

 

Managed closure of the most polluting and inflexible power stations to end the glut of old, high-carbon, generation capacity on EU power grids 

 

A common methodology to objectively assess whether an electricity system’s resources can deliver energy security 
 

Markets that, if needed, only support and do not hinder the transition to a clean power system 
 

Ensuring the EU’s power system is set up to encourage efficient flexible demand that is met by sustainable variable supply 
 

Retain guaranteed access to the grid and priority dispatch for variable renewables until markets work better