The European Union’s commitment to achieving climate neutrality by 2050 necessitates the transformation of our energy system. Achieving ambitious targets, including a 55% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, requires fossil fuel phase-out and the establishment of a new system centred on renewable energy and efficiency. This transition demands more than new generation capacity; it requires a complete reimagining how we plan the infrastructure that transports and delivers energy across the continent.

Historically, Europe’s energy networks for electricity, gas and heating have been planned and operated in separate systems. This fragmented sector-siloed approach is no longer viable for a highly integrated, renewables-based system. To achieve a climate-neutral future, it is essential to consider:

1. An unprecedented expansion of the electricity grid to connect renewable generation sites with demand centres.
2. The repurposing of existing gas networks to transport hydrogen.
3. The development of new infrastructure for carbon management (CCUS).

The absence of integrated planning can result in misallocation of investment, obsolescence of assets in fossil fuel infrastructure, and a potential carbon lock-in that could compromise the achievement of climate targets. This project will address the pressing need to break down these divisions and provide an integrated pathway for developing the energy infrastructure Europe needs.

The grant enables EPG to promote the development of renewables, to work towards integrated infrastructure planning (electricity, natural gas, hydrogen, CO2) with the aim of avoiding stranded assets in the gas infrastructure and thus carbon lock-in, and to achieve the Romanian climate targets. The grant enables activities to support the debate on the reform of the electricity market design with a view to aligning it with infrastructure development and the strong expansion of renewables. This will be implemented in the project by carrying out research activities, publishing studies and analyses and drawing up statements.