Kadri Simson, European Energy Commissioner, received the “European Electrification Prize”. Put like this, the news may seem routine, in the sense that politicians in every country receive certificates and rewards on the most diverse occasions.
Instead, the interest in the recognition of the Commissioner lies in the fact that the Prize was awarded to her by the EU Alliance for Electrification. Two events in one circumstance, as we will see.
Meanwhile, what is this Alliance? It is a free association that brings together the electricity industry, renewables, heat pump and energy infrastructure manufacturers. They are together to play a role in the projects of modernization of the energy systemco of the old continent
On the institutional website https://electrification-alliance.eu/ there are ten constituent members (Europe Climate Foundation, Wind Europe,avere, and others) who argue that "electrification is the future of the European Union's energy system". It is an organization that has the interests of consumers at heart, together (of course) with those of the industry.
“There is no more time to waste on uncertain developments that will not necessarily provide what we need,” the site reads. There mission needs political interlocutors and by virtue of this need they have launched a Manifesto for electrification. They did so when they awarded Commissioner Simson.
Good ideas in too short a time
In a few months the Commission ends its mandate, so the Manifesto-document is addressed to the next executive. What does he say ? Given that by 2030 35% of final energy use must come from electrification, we need a 2024-2029 plan with a iindicator in every national energy and climate plan. Europe, however, experiences a contradiction that is poorly and poorly highlighted. While we work to decarbonize electricity, much of the economy still runs on fossil fuels.
To change register you need to reach a percentage of clean electricity between 58 and 71% . From these numbers - says the Alliance - there will be benefits for consumers and millions of jobs. The times, let's be honest, are too concentrated. Nine, ten years to double electricity production with green sources? Sectors such as transport, industry, construction and heating can certainly have a less impactful footprint and the Alliance writes so.
What we have witnessed in recent years, however, is a lesson for the future. The rules and implementing provisions of the Green Deal took years to be approved by Parliament and even more years to be transposed into national legislation. The climate plans into which the Alliance's proposals should enter are large unfinished ones, disputed according to political ideas and opportunism. There is still a lot of ideological and paralyzing environmentalism around. Goodwill must always be appreciated and no one can say how the next Commission will act, as long as it is not well prepared to read the Manifestos.
