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Revised EU climate targets pose challenge for gas

The EU’s revised targets for energy efficiency and renewable generation raise questions about the future role of gas in the European energy mix The EU’s revised targets for energy efficiency and renewable generation raise questions about the future role of gas in the European energy mix.
By Andreas Walstad 21 June 2018 0 31395
A CCGT power plant in Spain. The revised targets may reduce the incentive to switch from coal to gas in power generation. (Iberdrola)

Following long and difficult negotiations, the EU institutions have finally agreed to scale up the bloc’s 2030 targets for energy efficiency and renewable power generation, and to tighten the governance framework to monitor compliance by member states. 

One of the objectives of the target for improving energy efficiency, which has been increased from 27% to 32.5%, is to reduce the EU’s dependence on fossil fuels – particularly gas. Brussels has long been concerned about the fact EU...